OBJECTIVETo determine whether the perioperative disease activity is associated with recurrence and complications after bowel resection for Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODSClinical data of patients underwent bowel resection for CD at the Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command from January 2002 to January 2011 was retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative recurrence and complications in patients with active disease were compared with those in patients with remission.

RESULTSA total of 90 patients underwent bowel resection for CD, active disease were seen in 43 patients at the time of surgery, while the rest 47 patients were in remission. The postoperative cumulative endoscopic recurrence rate was 8.5% at 1 year, 27.7% at 2 years and 44.7% at 3 years in the patients with remission, and was 27.9% at 1 year, 37.2% at 2 years and 53.5% at 3 years in patients with active disease. Data indicated the endoscopic recurrence were statistically significant in the first year after surgery (χ² = 4.605, P = 0.032). Additional, the postoperative complication rates in patients with remission (14.9%) was significantly lower than that in patients with active disease (51.2%) (χ² = 6.979, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONPatients with active disease at the time of surgery were encountered with early postoperative recurrence and increased complications after intestinal resection for CD.