Ileal pouch anal anastomosis: analysis of outcome and quality of life in 3707 patients. Ann Surg. 2013;257:679-685. [PMID: 23299522 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e31827d99a2]

Does anastomotic leakage impair functional results and quality of life after laparoscopic sphincter-saving total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer? A case-matched study

PURPOSE

Anastomotic leakage (AL) after total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer is suspected to alter function. However, very few reports have been devoted to this problem. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of AL on function and quality of life (QoL) after laparoscopic TME for cancer.

METHODS

A total of 170 patients who underwent laparoscopic TME and sphincter-saving surgery for mid and low rectal cancer were included (67 % after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy). Twenty-one patients with AL were assessed for function and QoL (Short Form 36 (SF-36), Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL), CR-29, and Wexner's score) at the most recent follow-up. These patients were matched to 42 patients without AL according to sex, body mass index, ypTNM, radiotherapy, and type of anastomosis.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 30 months, AL significantly impaired physical activity (SF-36) (p = 0.004), self-respect (FIQL) (p = 0.029), wear pad's score (Wexner's score) (p = 0.043), and blood and mucus in stool score (CR-29) (p = 0.001). Overall Wexner's score did not show any significant difference in the two groups, 8.9 in AL patients vs. 11.6 in patients without AL (p = 0.1).

CONCLUSION

AL significantly impairs both functional results and quality of life after laparoscopic sphincter-saving TME for rectal cancer. However, the observed difference was only limited, leading to similar outcomes on most of the tested scores. Patients with AL should be warned that if they initially experience severely impaired results, outcomes tend with time to become similar to those observed in noncomplicated patients.

Functional outcomes and quality of life after restorative proctocolectomy in paediatric patients: a case-control study

Background. Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) has some peculiarities in paediatric ulcerative colitis (UC). Aims. The primary aim was to compare the bowel function of patients undergoing IPAA between those operated on in childhood and adulthood. The secondary aim was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and outcomes for children between medical and surgical therapies. Method. Children undergoing IPAA were compared with adult patients undergoing IPAA between 2007 and 2012. Function was assessed 1 year after ileostomy closure. Function and QoL of medically managed paediatric patients were compared with their surgical counterparts. Results. Twelve paediatric IPAA patients were compared with 24 adult ones. Acute presentation was common in the former, usually after failed biological treatment. Recurrent pouchitis was more frequent in children. Younger patients exhibited a trend toward better discrimination and continence. QoL was excellent in both groups. Twelve medically treated children were enrolled for secondary aim. Functioning was similar in IPAA- and medically managed children, but the former had a better QoL, confirmed by parents' perception. Conclusions. Similar function is achieved by IPAA in childhood or adulthood. IPAA may offer a better QoL compared to prolonged medical management. The beneficial effects of IPAA experienced by children were similarly observed by their parents.

[Open coloproctectomy with ileoanal J-pouch reconstruction]

Coloproctectomy is a visceral surgical intervention where the complete colon and rectum are removed up to the level of the pelvic floor or pectinate line and the anal canal. As a rule the anal canal and pelvic floor musculature including the anal sphincter muscle remain intact. The ileoanal J-pouch construction has become established as treatment of choice for reconstruction of the small intestine. This article presents the approach for open coloproctectomy with ileoanal J-pouch reconstruction by means of an operation video which is available on-line.

Obesity increases risk for pouch-related complications following restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA)

PURPOSE

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the preferred surgical treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. As obesity is becoming more epidemic in surgical patients, the aim of this study was to investigate if obesity increases complication rates following IPAA.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a retrospective review of patients undergoing IPAA between January 1990 and April 2011. Patients were categorized by body mass index (BMI): BMI < 30 (non-obese) and BMI ≥ 30 (obese). Preoperative patient demographics, operative variables, and postoperative complications were recorded through chart review. The primary outcome studied was cumulative complication rate.

RESULTS

A total of 103 non-obese and 75 obese patients were identified who underwent IPAA. Obese patients had an increased rate of overall complications (80 % vs. 64%, p = 0.03), primarily accounted for by increased pouch-related complications (61% vs. 26%, p < 0.01). In particular, obese patients had more anastomotic/pouch strictures (27% vs. 6%, p < 0.01), inflammatory pouch complications (17 % vs. 4%, p < 0.01) and pouch fistulas (12% vs. 3%, p = 0.03). In a regression model, obesity remained a significant risk factor (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86, p = 0.01) for pouch-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of overall and pouch-related complications following IPAA. Obese patients should be counseled preoperatively about these risks accordingly.

Advances in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease: challenges and uncertainties

Over the past two decades, several advances have been made in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from both evaluative and therapeutic perspectives. This review discusses the medical advancements that have recently been made as the standard of care for managing patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD) and to identify the challenges associated with implementing their use in clinical practice. A comprehensive literature search of the major databases (PubMed and Embase) was conducted for all recent scientific papers (1990-2013) giving the recent updates on the management of IBD and the data were extracted. The reported advancements in managing IBD range from diagnostic and evaluative tools, such as genetic tests, biochemical surrogate markers of activity, endoscopic techniques, and radiological modalities, to therapeutic advances, which encompass medical, endoscopic, and surgical interventions. There are limited studies addressing the cost-effectiveness and the impact that these advances have had on medical practice. The majority of the advances developed for managing IBD, while considered instrumental by some IBD experts in improving patient care, have questionable applications due to constraints of cost, lack of availability, and most importantly, insufficient evidence that supports their role in improving important long-term health-related outcomes.

A comparison of laparoscopic and open restorative proctocolectomy in children

AIM

Restorative proctocolectomy (RP) is the gold standard for children requiring removal of their colon and rectum. The aim of this study is to contrast conventional (open) and laparoscopic RP.

METHODS

All children undergoing RP by one surgeon were prospectively recorded in a customised database. Outcome variables were length of stay in days (LOS), duration of surgery in minutes (DS), blood loss in ml, and complications. Explanatory variables included technique of resection (open or laparoscopic (lap)) and presenting disease. Lap resection was adopted after patient 37. Data are presented as median (range). P<0.05 was regarded as significant.

RESULTS

Eighty-two (43 girls) children underwent RP at median age 12 (0.5-20) years. RP was performed as Open (n=37) or Laparoscopic (n=45). Indications were: colitis (n=56), polyposis (n=12), constipation (n=7), Hirschsprung's (n=5), fibrosing colonopathy (n=2). Significantly, more children had three-stage surgery among the lap group (P =0.04). LOS was significantly shorter in the lap group [15 (8-114) days vs 17(13- 60) days; P=0.04], but there was no difference in DS or complication rates between laparoscopic and open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery was associated with significantly lower blood loss [150 (0-840) ml vs. 334 (0-1480) ml; P=0.02].

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic RP is associated with lower blood loss, shorter LOS, but no difference in duration of surgery or complication rate.

Does intramesorectal proctectomy with rectal eversion affect postoperative complications compared to standard total mesorectal excision in patients with ulcerative colitis?

INTRODUCTION

Proctectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC) can be performed via intramesorectal proctectomy with concomitant rectal eversion (IMP/RE) or total mesorectal excision (TME). No data exists comparing the outcomes of the two techniques.

METHODS

All UC patients undergoing J-pouch surgery at a single institution over 10.5 years were included. Postoperative complications with IMP/RE vs. TME were analyzed using univariable and multivariable statistics.

RESULTS

One hundred nineteen of 201 (59 %) patients underwent IMP/RE. Demographic and disease characteristics were similar between groups. On univariable analysis, IMP/RE had fewer total perioperative complications than TME (p = 0.02), but no differences in postoperative length of stay or readmissions. Multivariable regression accounting for patient age, comorbidities, disease severity, preoperative medications, operative technique, and follow-up time (mean 5.5 ± 0.2 years) suggested that both anastomotic leak rate (OR 0.32; p = 0.04) and overall postoperative complications (2.10 ± 0.17 vs. 2.60 ± 0.20; p = 0.05) were lower in the IMP/RE group.

CONCLUSIONS

IMP/RE may be associated with fewer overall postoperative complications compared to TME. However, further studies on functional and long-term outcomes are needed.

Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes

SUMMARY Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and the second-leading cause of cancer death in both sexes in developed countries. Over the last 25 years, highly penetrant monogenic germline mutations that predispose to CRC and other digestive tumors have been identified, accounting for up to 5% of all CRC cases. Identification and characterization of these disorders have allowed modification of their natural history, with a substantial decrease in morbidity and mortality among high-risk patients. Recognizing hereditary CRC has also impacted predictive genetic testing and personalized medicine based on genomic information. This review summarizes the current knowledge on hereditary CRC regarding pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic evaluation and management recommendations.

Surgery for luminal Crohn’s disease

Many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) require surgery. Indications for surgery include failure of medical treatment, bowel obstruction, fistula or abscess formation. The most common surgical procedure is resection. In jejunoileal CD, strictureplasty is an accepted surgical technique that relieves the obstructive symptoms, while preserving intestinal length and avoiding the development of short bowel syndrome. However, the role of strictureplasty in duodenal and colonic diseases remains controversial. In extensive colitis, after total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA), the recurrence rates and functional outcomes are reasonable. For patients with extensive colitis and rectal involvement, total colectomy and end-ileostomy is safe and effective; however, a few patients can have subsequent IRA, and half of the patients will require proctectomy later. Proctocolectomy is associated with a high incidence of delayed perineal wound healing, but it carries a low recurrence rate. Patients undergoing proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis had poor functional outcomes and high failure rates. Laparoscopic surgery has been introduced as a minimal invasive procedure. Patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery have a more rapid recovery of bowel function and a shorter hospital stay. The morbidity also is lower, and the rate of disease recurrence is similar compared with open procedures.

Role of surgery in pediatric ulcerative colitis

Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) has a more extensive and progressive clinical course than adult UC. Therefore, more aggressive initial therapies and more frequent surgical treatments are needed. The therapeutic goal is to gain clinical and laboratory control of the disease with minimal adverse effects while permitting the patient to function as normally as possible. Approximately 5-10 % of patients with UC require acute surgical intervention because of fulminant colitis refractory to medical therapy. Mucosal proctocolectomy with ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis is currently recommended as a standard curative surgical procedure for UC in both children and adults worldwide. This review will focus on the current issues regarding the surgical indications for pediatric UC, the technical details of procedures and results of most recent published series to take the most appropriate next step to improve the surgical outcomes and patients' quality of life.

Endoscopic therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases (with videos)

Endoscopic therapies are important modalities in the treatment of IBD, adjunct to medical and surgical approaches. These therapeutic techniques are particularly useful in the management of IBD-associated or IBD surgery–associated strictures, fistulas, and sinuses and colitis-associated neoplasia. Although the main focus of endoscopic therapies in IBD has been on balloon stricture dilation and ablation of adenoma-like lesions, new endoscopic approaches are emerging, including needle-knife stricturotomy, needle-knife sinusotomy, endoscopic stent placement, and fistula tract injection. Risk management of endoscopy-associated adverse events is also evolving. The application of endoscopic techniques in novel ways in the treatment of IBD is just beginning and will likely expand rapidly in the near future.

State-of-the-art surgical approaches to the treatment of medically refractory ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Management of medically refractory ulcerative collitis (UC) is a significant challenge to the surgeon. Operative morbidity is high and the potential for mortality remains.

DISCUSSION

Medical therapies have the potential to meaningfully improve the patient, or may dangerously delay and complicate surgery. Operative planning must appropriately address the patient's acuity without losing sight of the patient's long-term need for definitive surgical care and adequate functional outcome. State-of-the-art treatment hinges on prompt recognition of patients with acute severe UC, multidisciplinary coordination of medical therapy, and mature surgical judgment. Biologic therapies and minimally invasive surgical technologies represent the vanguard in UC. However, state-of-the-art treatment of acute severe UC is not employment of the newest drug or technology, but early performance of standard of care surgery, ileal pouch anal anastomosis, for every eligible patient. As the range of therapies available for UC continues to expand, the challenge for the surgeon is incorporating these new drugs and devices without losing sight of the standard of care.

Risk of ileal pouch neoplasms in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis

Restorative proctocolectomy is the most common surgical option for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). However, adenomas may develop in the ileal pouch mucosa over time, and even carcinoma in the pouch has been reported. We therefore reviewed the prevalence, nature, and treatment of adenomas and carcinoma that develop after proctocolectomy in the ileal pouch mucosa in patients with FAP. In 25 reports that were reviewed, the incidence of adenomas in the ileal pouch varied from 6.7% to 73.9%. Several potential factors that favor the development of pouch polyposis have been investigated, but many remain controversial. Nevertheless, it seems certain that the age of the pouch is important. The risk appears to be 7% to 16% after 5 years, 35% to 42% after 10 years, and 75% after 15 years. On the other hand, only 21 cases of ileal pouch carcinoma have been recorded in the literature to date. The diagnosis of pouch carcinoma was made between 3 to 20 years (median, 10 years) after pouch construction. Although the risk of malignant transformation in ileal pouches is probably low, it is not negligible, and the long-term risk cannot presently be well quantified. Regular endoscopic surveillance, especially using chromoendoscopy, is recommended.

Cytomegalovirus infection of the ileoanal pouch: clinical characteristics and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Up to 30% of cases of pouchitis are felt to have a secondary cause. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) may represent a possible etiopathological agent. Here, we report our experience with CMV involvement of the pouch, including risk factors, clinical features, and pouch outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

METHODS

The pathology database at Mayo Clinic in Rochester was searched between January 1995 and October 2012 for patients with a tissue diagnosis of CMV of the pouch following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

RESULTS

Seven patients with CMV inclusions of the pouch were identified. The median age was 35 (range, 10-53) years, and the majority were female (71%). Five patients (71%) were on immunosuppressive medications including 4 who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis. The clinical presentation was similar among all patients: the majority had diarrhea (86%), fever (71%), and abdominal pain (57%). All had mucosal inflammation, with 71% having focal ulcerations in the pouch and 60% having inflammatory changes in the prepouch ileum. All patients improved with ganciclovir. None required pouch excision or had recurrent CMV infection. Three patients had recurrent nonspecific pouchitis.

CONCLUSIONS

A high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose CMV of the pouch. An increase in stool frequency and fever in patients on immune suppression or in those who have failed empiric antibiotics should prompt assessment for CMV infection. Antiviral therapy seems to be effective, and postinfection pouch outcomes seem favorable, particularly in those presenting with their first episode of pouchitis.

Review article: strategies for the management of chronic unremitting ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Chronic active ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with significant morbidity, loss of productivity, increased colorectal cancer risk and cost. Up to 18% of patients suffer chronic active disease, with 30% requiring colectomy at 10 years. The management remains challenging given the relatively few clinical trials in this area.

AIM

To summarise the evidence regarding optimal management strategies for patients with chronic active UC of differing disease extents and degrees of treatment refractoriness.

METHOD

A literature search using the PubMed and Medline databases was performed. No time limit was set on article publication for inclusion.

RESULTS

The principles of management should focus on confirming disease activity, exclusion of alternative diagnoses, adherence and treatment escalation. Infliximab and topical tacrolimus are options in refractory proctitis, although the evidence for these therapies is limited. Both infliximab and adalimumab are effective in corticosteroid-refractory disease, although the proportions of patients achieving corticosteroid-free remission remain modest (24% at 30 weeks and 16.9% at 8 weeks respectively). Alternatives include ciclosporin and tacrolimus, and possibly methotrexate. Colectomy often leads to an improved quality of life; medical strategies unlikely to provide durable corticosteroid-free remission should not be pursued.

CONCLUSIONS

No current pharmacological treatment delivers mucosal healing in the majority of patients. Newer treatments such as vedolizumab and tofacitinib may represent valuable future therapies. Available medical options should be discussed with patients at every step of their management, with an honest appraisal of the evidence. Surgery should always be considered in patients with chronic refractory disease of any extent.

Restorative procedures in colonic crohn disease

Surgical management for refractory Crohn colitis often involves creation of a temporary or permanent stoma. Traditionally, the procedure of choice has been a total proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy. However, restorative procedures that help to avoid a permanent stoma are being used with more frequency. In this article, the authors will address these procedures, including colocolonic anastomosis, ileorectal anastomosis, ileal pouch rectal anastomosis, and ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Factors that may influence one's decision to perform these procedures, such as patient age and nutritional status, medical comorbidities, sphincter function, desire to avoid a permanent ostomy, and prior medical therapy, will be discussed. Functional outcomes regarding these procedures will also be described. One should keep in mind that surgery does not cure Crohn disease and that postoperative long-term management is essential in preventing progression or recurrence of disease.