Predictors for short bowel syndrome in Crohn's disease

ESPEN guideline on Clinical Nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease

The present guideline is an update and extension of the ESPEN scientific guideline on Clinical Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease published first in 2017. The guideline has been rearranged according to the ESPEN practical guideline on Clinical Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease published in 2020. All recommendations have been checked and, if needed, revised based on new literature, before they underwent the ESPEN consensus procedure. Moreover, a new chapter on microbiota modulation as a new option in IBD treatment has been added. The number of recommendations has been increased to 71 recommendations in the guideline update. The guideline is aimed at professionals working in clinical practice, either in hospitals or in outpatient medicine, and treating patients with IBD. General aspects of care in patients with IBD, and specific aspects during active disease and in remission are addressed. All recommendations are equipped with evidence grades, consensus rates, short commentaries and links to cited literature.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 analogues for Crohn’s disease patients with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) with intestinal failure (IF) is a rare but severe complication of Crohn’s disease (CD), which is the most frequent benign condition that leads to SBS after repeated surgical resections, even in the era of biologics and small molecules. Glucagon-like peptide-2 analogues have been deeply studied recently for the treatment of SBS-IF. These drugs have a significant intestinotrophic effect and the potential to reduce the chronic dependence of SBS-IF patients on parenteral support or nutrition. Teduglutide has been approved for the treatment of SBS-IF, and apraglutide is currently in clinical development. The use of these drugs was examined with a focus on their use in CD patients.

Preoperative Anti-TNF Therapy is Associated with a Shorter Length of Resected Bowel in Patients Undergoing Ileocolic Resection for Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Massive or repeated intestinal resections for Crohn's disease (CD) could lead to disabling consequences. The present study aimed to assess the effect of preoperative anti-TNF therapy on the length of resected bowel and identify risk factors for postoperative morbidity following ileocolic resection for CD.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective ileocolic resection for CD were included prospectively. Medical variables including demographics, Montréal classification, preoperative treatment, surgical details and 30-day postoperative morbidity were collected. Potential impact of preoperative anti-TNF treatment on length of ileocolic specimen and risk factors for postoperative morbidity were investigated.

RESULTS

One hundred and eight-four patients were included in this study, and 66 (35.9%) of them received anti-TNF agents within 8 weeks prior to surgery. Primary anastomosis was performed in 145 patients (78.8%). The mean length of resected intestine was 10 cm shorter in subjects receiving preoperative anti-TNF treatment than those without preoperative anti-TNF therapy (P < 0.001). The rates of postoperative overall, infectious and intra-abdominal septic morbidity were 29.9%, 19.0% and 7.6%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, anti-TNF therapy < 8 weeks before surgery was independently associated with a shorter length of resected bowel but didn't increase overall and septic complications, while systemic steroids use within 8 weeks prior to surgery independently increased overall complications and intra-abdominal sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative anti-TNF therapy was associated with a shorter length of resected bowel but not the overall and septic postoperative complications in ileocolic resection for CD. Weaning off systemic steroids before surgery may improve postoperative outcomes in patients with CD.