Laparoscopic Total Abdominal Colectomy with Ileorectal Anastomosis for Crohn’s Colitis and Multifocal Dysplasia
Winta T. Mehtsun, MD, MPH; Richard Hodin, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can chronically affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, with a propensity for the distal ileum. It causes transmural inflammation of the intestines, where it can cause abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.

There is no cure for Crohn’s disease; the goal of treatment is to palliate symptoms, accomplished with both medical and surgical options. Surgery is generally reserved for patients who are unresponsive to aggressive medical therapy or those who develop complications.

Here, we present the case of a 59-year-old male with chronic gastrointestinal problems thought to be Crohn’s colitis. Colonoscopy with biopsy of multiple areas showed dysplasia, prompting surgical resection. In this case, the entire colon was affected with rectal sparing; therefore, a total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis was performed.