Abstract
Anorectal strictures are a notoriously difficult to treat phenotype of perianal Crohn's
disease. Quality of life is diminished due to ongoing pain, incontinence, difficulty
with stool evacuation, and recurrent medical and surgical treatments. Medical therapy
is aimed at treating luminal disease and mucosal ulceration to prevent worsening of
fibrosis. Clinical examination and endoscopic intervention can be used for serial
dilations of strictures. Unfortunately, despite optimal medical therapy and endoscopic
intervention with serial anal dilations, surgery with intestinal diversion or proctocolectomy
may be required as part of the treatment algorithm in a significant proportion of
patients.
Keywords
anal canal disease - anal stenosis - proctocolectomy
