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Distal ileal or ileocolonic Crohn disease (CD) often requires resection with an ileocolonic anastomosis (ICA). Unfortunately, anastomotic strictures are not uncommon. These strictures can be treated with endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) or another surgery. To determine which of these approaches is best, investigators retrospectively reviewed the records of 307 patients with CD and ICA strictures treated with EBD (176 patients) or surgery (131 patients) between 1998 and 2013. Median follow-up was 2.9 years.
EBD was technically successful in 90% of patients. The median number of dilations was 2 (interquartile range, 1–14), and 52% of these patients ultimately required surgery. On multivariable analysis, initial EBD was associated with a highe…