ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the regional geometry of the Heineke-Mikulicz (HM) strictureplasty. The HM intestinal strictureplasty is commonly performed for the treatment of stricturing Crohn's disease of the small intestine. This procedure shifts relatively normal proximal and distal tissue to the point of narrowing and thus increases the luminal diameter. The overall effect on the regional geometry of the HM strictureplasty, however, has not been previously described in detail. METHODS: HM strictureplasties were created in latex tubing and cast with an epoxy resin. The resultant casts of the lumens were then imaged using computed tomography. Using 3-dimensional vascular reconstruction software, the cross-sectional areas were determined and the surface geometry was examined. RESULTS: The HM strictureplasty, while increasing the lumen at the point of the stricture, also results in a counterproductive luminal narrowing proximal and distal to the strictureplasty. Within the model used, cross-sectional area was diminished 25% to 50% below baseline. This effect is enhanced when 2 strictureplasties are placed in close proximity to each other. CONCLUSIONS: The HM strictureplasty results in alterations in the regional geometry that may result in a compromise of the lumen proximal and distal to the location of the strictureplasty. When 2 HM strictureplasties are created in close proximity to each other, care should be undertaken to assure that the lumen of the intervening segment is adequate.
