Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment in Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic and idiopathic inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and the terminal ileum is the most frequently involved site; moreover, the first peak of the disease is between 20 and 30 years of age. Surgery plays a very important role in its management: the lifetime risk of surgery is about 70% – 90% [1], for its complications or failure of medical treatment and the reoperation rate is approximately 40% 50% within 10-15 years after the first operation [2]. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery began in the early 90’s; nowadays the equipment development, the surgeons experience and the results of clinical trials lead to affirm the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery, which should be considered as the first line surgical approach in selected patients. In fact, a less surgical trauma should lead to a better preservation of immune response, better cosmetic result, less post-operative pain and faster return of bowel functionality with faster hospital discharge [3].