Surgery for Crohn’s disease treats complications of the condition, like holes, blockages or narrowed areas in your intestines. Crohn’s disease surgeries include strictureplasty, colostomy, bowel resection and more. Surgery can’t cure Crohn’s disease, but it can help manage your symptoms.
If you have Crohn’s disease, you can probably manage many of your symptoms with medication and nutritional changes. But up to 80% of people with the condition will need surgery at some point. The type of surgery you need depends on the symptoms you have.
Your healthcare provider might recommend Crohn’s disease surgery if you develop complications, or if nonsurgical treatments become less effective.
Surgery for Crohn’s disease treats symptoms like:
Less common reasons for Crohn’s disease surgery include:
Crohn’s disease can be frustrating. Flare-ups come and go, sometimes with no rhyme or reason — and that uncertainty can feel overwhelming at times. While surgery can’t cure Crohn’s disease, it can ease uncomfortable symptoms and allow you to do more of the things you love.
The most common surgeries for Crohn’s disease include:
It depends on which procedure you have, the severity of disease and the affected parts of your digestive system. Your healthcare provider can tell you what to expect in your situation.
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In many cases, providers can do Crohn’s disease surgery laparoscopically or robotically. This means you’ll typically have fewer incisions, fewer stitches and less postoperative discomfort.
Additionally, Crohn’s disease surgery can result in:
Having surgery for Crohn’s disease doesn’t guarantee that you won’t develop more symptoms. About 20% of people who have Crohn’s disease surgery will need another procedure within five years of their first surgery.
Any procedure comes with risks, including surgeries for Crohn’s disease.
Possible complications include:
If you develop complications after Crohn’s disease surgery, your healthcare provider will help you come up with a plan. This may involve medications, nonsurgical treatments or surgery.
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Full recovery after Crohn’s disease surgery can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks. Most people feel ready to go back to work after six weeks.
Your recovery time will depend on several factors, like:
Your healthcare provider is here to help. If you have specific questions about your treatment or recovery, reach out to them.
Most people who have Crohn’s disease surgery stay in the hospital for about a week. (Some leave sooner, some stay longer.)
After your surgery, your healthcare team will:
If you had an ostomy, a healthcare provider will teach you how to use and clean your new ostomy bag. They’ll make sure you’re comfortable with this process before they discharge you from the hospital.
Surgery can’t cure Crohn’s disease. There’s always a chance that your symptoms will return, even after surgery.
But treatment can manage or reduce your symptoms. In many cases, it can noticeably improve your quality of life.
Your healthcare provider will work closely with you every step of the way. Whenever you have a flare-up, they’ll talk to you about treatment options and make a plan that works for you.
If you have Crohn’s disease, you might be wondering why you should have surgery at all. The risk of not having surgery depends on your specific situation. But leaving Crohn’s disease untreated may result in:
Some people won’t need surgery for Crohn’s disease at all. In fact, fewer people need surgery now than they did in the last two decades. This is likely due to new and improved medications and tests that can help with earlier diagnosis.
Currently, about 1 in 5 people will need surgery within the first five years of their diagnosis. Your healthcare provider is the only person who can tell you what’s appropriate in your case.
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Following Crohn’s disease surgery, you should call your healthcare provider if:
If you had an ostomy, let your provider know if it’s been over 24 hours since poop came out of your stoma. It could mean you have a blockage.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Maybe you recently received a Crohn’s disease diagnosis. Or maybe you’ve been dealing with it for years. Either way, you might dread the thought of surgery — especially if you’ve been down this road before. It might help to talk with others who are going through the same thing. Consider finding a local or online support group and sharing stories with the millions of people who live with Crohn’s disease every day.
Crohn’s disease surgery can’t heal your condition. But in many cases, it can ease symptoms like pain, nausea and fatigue, and improve your quality of life. Your healthcare provider is here to help you decide what’s best for your situation.
Last reviewed on 04/17/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy