Endoscopic Stricturotomy Versus Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation in Patients With Crohn's Disease and Symptomatic Small Bowel Stricture

Stenosis is one of the most frequent complications in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). In particular, CD patients with intestinal strictures are often faced with short bowel syndrome after repeated or extensive surgical resection. Endoscopic management shows good efficacy and safety in the treatment of strictures in CD patients. The European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guideline recommended that endoscopic balloon dilatation is suitable to treat short \[\<5 cm\] strictures of the terminal ileum in CD. Recently, Lan et al. reported that endoscopic stricturotomy appeared to be more effective in treating CD patients with anastomotic stricture than endoscopic balloon dilatation. However, there is no prospective clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of endoscopic stricturotomy in the treatment of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease. The trial aims to compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic stricturotomy with endoscopic balloon dilation in the treatment of small bowel stricture in patients with Crohn's Disease.