It's a worrying statistic that for people with crohn's three-fourths of sufferers wil have to undergo crohn's disease surgery at some point in their life. Most medical professionals will try to control Crohn's with medications and lifestyle changes before they suggest this, but there are times when it just has to be done for the sake of saving the life of the patient. When this condition strikes in the intestinal area, which it often does, there are complications that can arise that require Crohn's disease surgery, and even though it is not a cure, it can help make a patient feel much better.

Because Crohn's disease causes moderate to severe inflammation in the intestines, complications can occur. There are medications that can help with many of the symptoms, but there are times when the inflammation that is the root cause of Crohn's will reek havoc on the system as a whole, or just a small part of it. Most doctors will not rush a patient into Crohn's disease surgery unless they think it is absolutely necessary as some of the procedures are rather complicated, carry risk and can change a person's life forever.

For some crohn's sufferers there are times when the intestines become blocked. This means that foods cannot pass through the system, and the patient will become unable to absorb nutrition nor will they be able to have a bowel movement. Alternatively, abscess can occur or tears in the intestinal walls will begin to bleed. The blood will exit through the rectum, alerting the patient that something is wrong. Surgery will be necessary if the wall of the intestine is perforated, as that might mean waste is leaking into the body.

One type of surgical procedure commonly performed is strictureplasty. This is done when there is a blockage or problem in the small intestine. When the problem is minor, the surgeons look to fix the problem but if the situation has gone past the point of repair a small section of the intestine will be removed and the ends will be connected.

Occassionlly there are times when the problems in the colon are so bad that it must be removed completely. When this happens, the small intestine is rerouted though the front of the abdominal wall. This is called a proctocolectomy. The waste then leaves the body and empties into a small bag that is changed by the patient. Doctors will do everything they can to avoid the latter from happening.

If you are one of the lucky ones, you will never have to have Crohn's disease surgery, but many patients are faced with it. Though the thought of surgery is a scary one, you should take some times to think about it before you decide that you don't want to do it. Have a conversation - or many conversations - with your doctor to talk about what is bothering you and what might happen if you don't have the operation. Understanding the risks involved by not having the crohn's disease surgery can help you make a clear choice.