Laparoscopic-Assisted Percutaneous Endoscopic Cecostomy (LAPEC) in Children and Young Adults

Percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy for management of Ogilvie's syndrome: a case series and literature review with an update on current guidelines (with video)

INTRODUCTION

Percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy (PEC) is a viable treatment option for patients with persistent or recurrent acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO; Ogilvie's syndrome). It should be generally considered in patients that are refractory to pharmacologic and endoscopic decompression, especially those not amenable to surgical intervention due to an increased perioperative risk. Physicians are rather unfamiliar with this approach given the limited number of reports in the literature and paucity of guideline resources, although guidelines concerning ACPO and covering the role of endoscopy were recently published by three major expert societies, all within the last 2 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively identified three consecutive patients who underwent PEC placement at a Czech tertiary referral center between May 2018 and December 2021: all for recurrent ACPO. In addition, we summarized the current guidelines in order to present the latest knowledge related both to the procedure and management approach in patients with ACPO.

RESULTS

The placement of PEC was successful and resulted in clinical improvement in all cases without any adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The results of our experience are in line with previous reports and suggest that PEC may become a very useful tool in the armamentarium of modalities utilized to treat ACPO. Furthermore, the availability of guideline resources now offers comprehensive guidance for informed decision-making and the procedural aspects.

Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders: What Role Does Endoscopy Play?

Although pediatric neurogastroenterology and motility (PNGM) disorders are prevalent, often debilitating, and remain challenging to diagnose and treat, this field has made remarkable progress in the last decade. Diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy emerged as a valuable tool in the management of PNGM disorders. Novel modalities such as functional lumen imaging probe, per-oral endoscopic myotomy, gastric-POEM, and electrocautery incisional therapy have changed the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of PNGM. In this review, the authors highlight the emerging role of therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy in esophageal, gastric, small bowel, colonic, and anorectal disorders and disorders of gut and brain axis interaction.

Prevention and management of complications in various antegrade enema procedures in children: a review of the literature

The antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedures are successful surgical options to achieve bowel cleaning in children with faecal incontinence due to a neuropathy or an anorectal malformation and an intractable constipation. The reversed and orthotopic appendicocecostomy, tubularized ileal conduit and the tubularized cecal flap are frequently applied procedures in the treatment of faecal incontinence (FI). The most common complications are the stoma stenosis, leakage, prolapse, adhesive obstruction and the difficulty in catheterization. Each procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages with different complication rates. The postoperative complications of ACE procedures may reduce patient compliance and quality of life. Most of these complications can be preventable and are easy to manage. This review aimed to discuss the prevention and management strategies for various ACE procedure complications.

Pediatric Neurogenic Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: Will My Child Ever Be out of Diapers?

CONTEXT

Managing patient and parent expectations regarding urinary and fecal continence is important with congenital conditions that produce neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction. Physicians need to be aware of common treatment algorithms and expected outcomes to best counsel these families.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate evidence regarding the utilization and success of various modalities in achieving continence, as well as related outcomes, in children with neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We performed a systematic review of the literature in PubMed/Medline in August 2019. A total of 114 publications were included in the analysis, including 49 for bladder management and 65 for bowel management.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Children with neurogenic bladder conditions achieved urinary continence 50% of the time, including 44% of children treated with nonsurgical methods and 64% with surgical interventions. Patients with neurogenic bowel problems achieved fecal continence 75% of the time, including 78% of patients treated with nonsurgical methods and 73% with surgical treatment. Surgical complications and need for revisions were high in both categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately half of children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction will achieve urinary continence and about three-quarters of children with neurogenic bowel dysfunction will become fecally continent. Surgical intervention can be successful in patients refractory to nonsurgical management, but the high complication and revision rates support their use as second-line therapy. This is consistent with guidelines issued by the International Children's Continence Society.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Approximately half of children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction will achieve urinary continence, and about three-quarters of children with neurogenic bowel dysfunction will become fecally continent. Most children can be managed without surgery. Patients who do not achieve continence with nonsurgical methods frequently have success with operative procedures, but complications and requirements for additional procedures must be expected.

Robotic conversion of cecostomy tube to catheterizable antegrade continence enema (ACE): Surgical technique

INTRODUCTION

Antegrade continence enema (ACE) is a well described treatment for pediatric patients with neurogenic bowel refractory to medical and retrograde management. ACE can be carried out either by catheterizable channel with enteric conduit or a cecostomy tube appliance. For those patients who have issues with pain or leakage around the cecostomy appliance or wish to be appliance free, we present our initial results and description of a novel technique of laparoscopic conversion of cecostomy to catheterizable ACE which uses the existing tract and requires no enteric conduit.

METHODS

A single institution, retrospective chart review was carried out for 2014-2017 to identify patients undergoing ACE conversion. Preoperative parameters included age, sex, weight, neurogenic bowel etiology and time from initial cecostomy. Perioperative data included length of surgery, length of hospitalization and postoperative complications (via Clavien-Dindo scale). Postoperative follow up, ancillary procedures pertinent to the ACE and status at time of submission are also presented.

RESULTS

Six patients were identified (mean age 14.1 +/- 4.3 years) with median follow up of 36 months (range 18-65). Neurogenic bowel etiology was spina bifida in five and spinal cord injury in one; all patients had concurrent neurogenic bladder with preexisting appendicovesicostomy. Mean operative time was 168 +/- 37 min (range 122-228) and mean length of hospital stay was 2 days (range 1-4). Success rate is 83% (5/6 continue to catheterize ACE channel), with one patient opting back for appliance through same tract. One patient has required operative revision for stomal stenosis.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report describing robotic-assisted laparoscopic conversion of cecostomy tube to a catheterizable ACE. The surgical technique we describe is simple and safe with minimal morbidity to the patient. It does not require an enteral conduit, and may represent a valid treatment in patients without the option of using the appendix.

Refractory Constipation: What is the Clinician to Do?

Most clinicians will agree that chronic constipation is characterized by abnormal bowel movement consistency and/or frequency plus or minus evacuation symptoms, but patient perception of constipation varies widely and includes symptoms that may or may not meet official defining criteria. Although intermittent constipation is extremely common, only a small minority of patients seek care for their symptoms. Among these patients, dissatisfaction with the currently available laxative options is not uncommon, and many patients will require specialized care for severe or refractory symptoms-especially those with abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome overlap, bloating or distention, and psychological comorbidities. This review outlines a physiological assessment of the patient with refractory constipation, exploring treatment options among patients with slow transit, rectal evacuation disorders, and normal transit. In addition, we explore nonlaxative approaches to normal-transit patients bothered by ongoing symptoms, with an emphasis on the biopsychosocial model of functional gastrointestinal disease and treatment of visceral hypersensitivity using neuromodulators. Finally, we propose a comprehensive evaluation algorithm for the management of patients with refractory slow-transit constipation considering surgery and examine surgical options including colectomy and cecostomy using an antegrade continent enema.

Laparoscopic Appendicostomy Low-Profile Balloon Button for Antegrade Enemas in Children

INTRODUCTION

The Malone appendicostomy is a continent channel used for antegrade enemas. It requires daily cannulation and is susceptible to stenosis. We use an indwelling low-profile balloon button tube inserted through the appendix into the cecum for antegrade enemas. We hypothesized that this method is effective at managing constipation or fecal incontinence and is associated with a low rate of stenosis.

METHODS

Children who underwent laparoscopic appendicostomy balloon button placement at our institution from January 2011 to April 2017 were identified. The primary outcome was success in managing constipation or fecal continence as measured by the Malone continence scale. Postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-six children underwent the procedure, 35 of which met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-one patients (88.5%) underwent the operation for idiopathic constipation, 3 patients (8.6%) for anorectal malformation, and 1 patient (2.9%) for hypermobility. Rate of open conversion was 3%. A full response was obtained in 24 patients (68.6%), partial response in 9 patients (25.7%), and 2 patients failed (5.7%). One patient developed an internal hernia requiring laparotomy and later developed mucosal prolapse. One patient developed a stricture noted at button change. Seven patients (20%) underwent reversal of their appendicostomy tube: 5 due to return of normal bowel function and 2 due to discomfort with flushes.

CONCLUSION

A laparoscopic appendicostomy with a balloon button tube is an effective means of addressing chronic constipation or fecal incontinence. The stenosis rate associated with tube appendicostomy may be lower than those reported for Malone antegrade continence enema procedures.