-Objectives -Anemia is the most common hematological alteration in patients with Crohn's disease, and is frequently related to intestinal inflammatory activity. Its cause is multifactorial and mostly associated with absolute iron deficiency (iron deficiency anemia) and/or functional iron deficiency (inflammation anemia or anemia of chronic disease). It may also be identified through other causes, such as folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency and secondary to adverse effects from medications (salicylic derivatives and immunosuppressive drugs). In the present study, patients with active Crohn's disease and anemia were evaluated and treated with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. We discuss the therapeutic schemes (doses), safety, results and improvement of quality of life. Methods -In the present prospective study, 10 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease, with moderate to severe activity, with anemia (Hb: 6.7 to 10 g/dL), who were attended between March 2014 and March 2015, were evaluated. Six (60%) were men and four were women, all with moderate or severe anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dL). They were treated with a maximum of three intravenous infusions of 1000 mg of ferric carboxymaltose, of at least 15 minutes in duration. It was also sought to correlate the inflammatory Crohn's disease activity degree (measured using the Crohn's Disease Activity Index, CDAI) and C-reactive protein level with the severity of anemia. The primary outcome was an increase in Hb of ≥2 g/dL and the secondary outcome was the normalization of anemia (Hb ≥12 g/dL for women and ≥13 g/dL for men) and the improvement in quality of life seen 12 weeks after the last application of carboxymaltose. Results -Among the 10 patients studied, parenteral iron supplementation was administered in three cases during hospitalization and the others received this on an outpatient basis. The total iron dose ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 mg, with an average of 1,650 mg. Crohn's disease activity measured using CDAI and C-reactive protein correlated with the intensity of anemia. An increase of 2 g/dL occurred in eight (80%) patients after 12 weeks and normalization of anemia was found in seven (70%) patients. Improvements in quality-of-life scores were found for all (100%) patients after 12 weeks. Carboxymaltose was well tolerated. Three patients presented adverse reactions (two with nausea and one with headache) of mild intensity. Conclusions -Anemia is a frequent complication for Crohn's disease patients. Intravenous iron therapy has been recommended for Crohn's disease patients, because for these patients, oral iron absorption is very limited. This is because of the inflammatory state and "blocking" of iron entry into enterocytes through hepcidin action on ferroportin, along with the elevated rates of gastrointestinal adverse events that compromise adherence to treatment and possibly aggravate the intestinal inflammatory state. The degree of Crohn's disease activity, as measured using CDAI and C-reactive protein, correlates with the severity of anemia....

Background: Transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialization with mucopexy (THD-M) is a valuable option for treating patients with haemorrhoidal disease. However, there is still controversy with regard to its efficacy for more advanced grades. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of THD-M technique for treating hemorrhoidal disease and to compare the immediate and late results in different grades. Method: Seven hundred and five consecutive patients with Goligher’s grade II, III or IV symptomatic haemorrhoids underwent surgical treatment using the THD-M method in five participating centres. Six well-trained and experienced surgeons operated on the patients. Average follow-up was 21 months (12-48). Results: Intraoperative complications were observed in 1.1% of cases, including four cases of haematoma, two of laceration of the mucosa, and two of bleeding. All of these were controlled by means of haemostatic suturing. In relation to postoperative complications, the most common of these were as follows: transitory tenesmus (21.4%); pain (7.2%); mucosal or haemorrhoidal prolapse (6.4%); residual skin tag (5.6%); faecal impaction (3.2%); haemorrhoidal thrombosis (2.8%); bleeding (2.1%); anal fissure (0.7%); and anal abscess (0.3%). Most of the complications were treated conservatively, and only 7.5% (53/705) required some type of surgical approach. There was no mortality or any severe complications. The recurrence of prolapse and bleeding was greater in patients with grade IV haemorrhoidal disease than in those with grade III and II (26.54% and 7.96% vs. 2.31% and 0.92% vs. 2.5% and 1.25%), respectively. Conclusion: The THD-M method is safe and effective for haemorrhoidal disease grades II and III with low rates of surgical complications. However, for grade IV hemorrhoids, it is associated with higher recurrence of prolapse and bleeding. So, THD-M method should not be considered as an effective option for the treatment of grade IV hemorrhoids.

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This video demonstrates the surgical treatment for stricturing Crohn's disease of the small bowel. The patient had multiple symptomatic fibrotic strictures over 30 cm of the bowel, so a laparoscopic enterectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis was performed. We share some technical details about handling the mesentery and performing an intracorporeal isoperistaltic side-to-side anastomosis.See video on the DCR YouTube Channel at https:// youtu.be/HBomSsMePDs KEY IMAGEFunding/Support: None reported.

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