Stricture Definition and Treatment (STRIDENT) Endoscopic Therapy Study
Stricture Definition and Treatment (STRIDENT) Endoscopic Therapy Study
Two thirds of patients with Crohn's disease require intestinal surgery at some time in their
 life. Intestinal strictures, that is narrowing of the bowel due to inflammation and scarring,
 are the most common reason for surgery. Despite the high frequency, associated disability,
 and cost there are no are no treatment strategies that aim to improve the outcome of this
 disease complication. The STRIDENT (stricture definition and treatment) studies aim to
 develop such strategies.
Prospective randomised controlled study. Patients with Crohn's Disease and symptomatic
 stricture(s) will undergo randomisation to receive standard or intensive endoscopic therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Inflammatory bowel disease patients with intestinal stricture(s) identified on CT, MRI
 or endoscopy.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Acute bowel obstruction requiring urgent surgical intervention

 -  Deemed by treating physician to have high risk of acute bowel obstruction

 -  Concurrent active perianal sepsis

 -  Internal fistulising disease in association with strictures (entero-enteric stulas)

 -  Low rectal or anal strictures

 -  Evidence of dysplasia or malignancy from stricture biopsies or adjacent mucosal
 biopsies

 -  Patients for whom endoscopy is not suitable due to co-morbidities or clinical state

 -  Inability to give informed consent

 -  Suspected perforation of the gastrointestinal tract

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Inability to undergo MRI small bowel due to a contraindication.