Stricture
A stricture is a narrowing of a section of bowel, caused by inflammation, scar tissue, or both. It can slow or block the passage of stool and may lead to a bowel obstruction. Strictures are a common complication of long-standing Crohn's disease.
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A stricture is a narrowing of a section of bowel. The word describes an abnormal narrowing of a passage in the body, and in the gut it means a stretch of small intestine or colon that has become too tight (Cleveland Clinic: Stenosis & stricture).
What causes the narrowing
A bowel stricture forms from inflammation, scar tissue, or both. When inflammation in conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis keeps healing and re-healing, it can leave scarring in the bowel wall, and over time that scarring narrows the passage (Cleveland Clinic: Colon stricture).
Why it matters
A narrowed bowel makes it harder for stool to pass. A stricture can slow that passage or, if it is tight enough, block it completely, which is a bowel obstruction and a reason to seek care promptly. People with long-standing Crohn's disease are at higher risk of strictures (Cleveland Clinic: Stenosis & stricture).
How it is managed
Treatment depends on whether the narrowing is mostly active inflammation, which medicine can ease, or mostly scar tissue, which may need a procedure to widen or remove the tight section. Working out which is which is a job for your care team (Cleveland Clinic: Colon stricture).