A recent review (T Qazi, M Regueiro. Practical Gastroenterology 2020: June Issue, 10-18. Full PDF Link: Crohn’s Disease Complicated by an Intra-abdominal Abscess: Poke, Prod, or Cut?)

The article is a good review & the algorithm below provides some good guidance -if difficult to visualize, then it may be worthwhile to look at source article.

The authors propose initial management with antibiotics, minimization of steroids, nutritional support and drainage.

Medical treatment is favored after initial management:

• Newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease
• Extensive disease
• No fibrostenoting disease
• Active perianal disease

Surgical treatment is favored after initial management:

• Long-standing disease
• Stricture with dilatation
• Abscess >6 cm in size
• Prior surgical intervention

The authors note that “recent studies have suggested that roughly 30% of patients
treated with PD are able to avoid future surgical resection.”

Related blog posts:

• Ileocecal Resection in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease
• Expert Guidance on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 2020 (Part 3)