Better ways to choose where to cut during Crohn's surgery

When Crohn's disease affects the end of the small intestine, surgery to remove the diseased part is sometimes necessary. This trial is testing whether using ultrasound imaging during the operation helps surgeons choose healthier tissue to cut, compared to the current standard method of using their eyes and hands to decide where to cut. The goal is to see if this imaging-guided approach leads to better outcomes and fewer disease recurrences after surgery.

Even after surgery removes the diseased bowel, Crohn's disease often comes back in the same area. Doctors wonder if choosing resection margins—the edges of healthy tissue where the surgeon cuts—more carefully using ultrasound imaging might reduce this recurrence rate and improve long-term outcomes.