Profile of Crohn’s Disease Patients Who Underwent Anorectal Examination under Anesthesia

Abstract

Introduction Crohn’s disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease, and in ∼ 30% of cases it is associated with perianal manifestations. To identify the extent of the damage and to implement an appropriate treatment, anorectal examination under anesthesia (EUA) is fundamental. Objective To describe the profile of patients who underwent anorectal EUA in university and private hospitals in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Methodology A retrospective, descriptive study with 46 patients who underwent anorectal EUA between March, 2016 and November, 2019. Results A total of 62 anorectal EUAs were performed in 46 patients. With an average age of 36.8 years, the female gender was predominant (52.2%) among these patients. Anal fistulas were the most frequent findings (83.8%), and in most cases they were treated with a seton placement (69.4%). The main recommended surgical indication was a proper evaluation and identification of perianal disease, followed by drainage of the abscess and therefore immunobiological therapy (59.6%). Conclusion In the present study, the profile of CD patients was similar to those found in the literature, with a high rate of complex anal fistulas. Additional studies are still necessary to further comprehend and treat this particular and debilitating manifestation of the disease.