London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Surgery for Crohn's disease
A surgical operation for Crohn's disease may be necessary to treat inflammation or strictures (blockages)
About surgery for Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is an inflammation of your gastrointestinal (digestive) tract. It can affect any part of your digestive tract, from your mouth to your back passage.
Up to half of people with Crohn's disease will need surgery at some stage. Quite often, the main reason for surgery is to treat a blockage in the intestine. Blockages happen when the intestine narrows as a result of scarred tissue caused by Crohn's. The only way to address this blockage is surgery. In other cases, surgery may be need to treat related conditions, like anal fistulas or abcesses.
Many people worry that having surgery will mean that they have to wear a stoma bag (a faeces collection bag). Stoma bags are rare nowadays and are often a temporary measure.
Surgery for Crohn's is by no means a last ditch option. If it's done at the right time, it can be one of the best means of getting a patient’s life back on track.
Paying for medical treatment
You don't need medical insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our Crohn's disease locations
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Digestive Centre
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
The Wellington Hospital Endoscopy Centre
Central Building NW8 9SQ London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.