Crohn’s perianal fistula is a serious complication of Crohn’s disease, affecting about 25% of patients. It is linked to lower quality of life, higher hospitalization and surgery rates, increased costs, and mental health challenges.
AGA convened a multidisciplinary conference to address these challenges and released a new expert commentary summarizing practices for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring Crohn’s perianal fistula.
Watch the conference discussion and read the full commentary in Gastroenterology.
Key takeaways and recommendations:
- Refer early to specialists to limit disease progression.
- Use MRI or endoscopic ultrasound consistently for diagnosis and monitoring.
- Implement a multidisciplinary team model that includes patient and caregiver voices.
- Prioritize shared decision-making and address holistic patient needs.
