New research led by the University of Limerick explores a novel surgical technique that significantly reduces relapse rates for Crohn’s disease patients.
A new surgical approach, developed by a research team at the University of Limerick and University Hospital Limerick, has the potential to transform the treatment of Crohn’s disease globally. This procedure reduces the need for repeat surgeries, offering new hope to those suffering from this disease.
Crohn’s disease affects millions worldwide. The disease is known for its high recurrence rate, with more than 80% of patients requiring surgery at some point in their lives. However, around 40% of those patients experience the need for repeat surgeries.
The approach developed by Professor J. Calvin Coffey, Foundation Chair of Surgery at UL’s School of Medicine, and his team focuses on the removal of the mesentery, a previously underappreciated organ. In 2016, Professor Coffey and his colleagues reclassified the mesentery as a distinct organ.
The international study is led by Dr. Yi Li of Nanjing University in China and other collaborators. The trial, which focuses on the recurrence of Crohn’s disease in the inner lining of the intestine, finds that those who undergo surgery to remove the mesentery have lower rates of relapse.
Patients who receive conventional surgery see relapse rates of approximately 46%. However, those who have the mesentery removed experience a drop in relapse rates, with only 23% experiencing a recurrence.
A life-changing impact for Crohn’s disease patients
Professor Coffey says that the findings are especially significant for the many young people who are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. “These patients are generally young. They are most affected by the disease just at that time when they are embarking on new careers, buying houses, getting married, and starting families. As a result of the disease, they are committed to an awful reality during this very important time.”
“This new approach offers the possibility of reducing the need for repeated surgeries, long-term medications, and frequent hospital visits,” he adds.
Professor Coffey, who also serves as Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon at UHL, emphasizes the importance of this approach in providing long-term relief for Crohn’s disease patients. “The results of this trial are clear evidence of the direct impact the discoveries on the mesentery have had in the clinical and scientific setting,” he says. “This is very positive news indeed for patients with Crohn’s disease and for their families.”