What constitutes failure of medical therapy in the changing landscape of Crohn's disease?

Abstract

The management of Crohn's disease has evolved rapidly in the era of immunomodulators and biologicals. Despite this, a significant proportion of patients with Crohn's disease ultimately require surgical management. One of the indications for operative management includes failure of medical therapy. We report two cases of patients with complicated Crohn's disease who have exhausted medical therapy and failed medical management. In both cases, the patients developed large complex intra-abdominal phlegmons and intractable symptoms of intermittent pain, partial obstruction and/or infectious complications requiring operative intervention. Crohn's disease can present with a wide spectrum of disease. Considering the complexity of management in Crohn's disease, it is important for both physicians and surgeons to be aware of what constitutes failure of medical therapy and when it may be important to consider surgical involvement.