Brit J Hosp Med
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Huge advances in the medical treatment of ileocaecal Crohn's disease have occurred in the last 20 years. Consequently, surgery has become synonymous with treatment failure and is often only implemented when multiple medical interventions have been trialled. However, evidence that patients avoid surgery in the long term is questionable. ⋯ Significant barriers exist to this mindset of earlier surgery. Such barriers can only be overcome with a vigorous multidisciplinary approach. This editorial describes the debate surrounding the concept of early bowel resection in these patients.