Crohn's-like complications in patients with ulcerative colitis after total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become an established surgical procedure for ulcerative colitis. Occasional patients who have undergone IPAA develop persistent or recurrent episodes of pouchitis (chronic pouchitis), from which a subset also develop gastrointestinal and systemic complications that are identical to those seen in Crohn's disease. These complications include enteric stenoses or fistulas in the pouch or pouch inlet segment, perianal fistulas or abscesses, pouch fistulas, arthritis, iridocyclitis, and pyoderma gangrenosum. The development of Crohn's-like gastrointestinal complications in a patient with chronic pouchitis frequently engenders concern that the pathologist misinterpreted the proctocolectomy specimen as ulcerative colitis instead of Crohn's disease. We describe eight patients who developed chronic pouchitis and Crohn's-like complications after IPAA and total proctocolectomy. In each case, concern was voiced about misinterpretation of the proctocolectomy specimen as ulcerative colitis instead of Crohn's disease after the development of the Crohn's-like complications. Preoperatively, all eight patients had characteristic clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of ulcerative colitis. Review of the pathology specimens indicated that all eight had ulcerative colitis. Crohn's-like complications are most likely related to chronic pouchitis, which probably is a form of recrudescent ulcerative colitis within the novel environment of the pouch. A diagnosis of Crohn's disease after IPAA surgery should only be made when reexamination of the original proctocolectomy specimen shows typical pathologic features of Crohn's disease, Crohn's disease arises in parts of the gastrointestinal tract distant from the pouch, pouch biopsies contain active enteritis with granulomas, or excised pouches show the characteristic features of Crohn's disease, including granulomas. There were no histologic differences in the total colectomy specimens between the eight ulcerative colitis study patients and 16 control ulcerative colitis patients who had a favorable clinical outcome after IPAA surgery groups. Crohn's-like complications and chronic pouchitis does not necessarily imply an incorrect original interpretation of ulcerative colitis by the pathologist.

Validity of 3-methylhistidine excretion as an indicator of skeletal muscle protein breakdown in humans.

The urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine (3MEH) in humans and animals has been used as a biologic marker for skeletal muscle protein breakdown. In rats, it has been recently suggested that there is a significant contribution of 3MEH in urine from the gastrointestinal tract due to the rapid turnover of protein in that tissue. To evaluate this point in humans, six patients with short bowel were evaluated. They were placed on three-day meat-free diets while 24-hour urine collections were obtained. The mean +/- SEM 3MEH in the short-bowel group was 3.27 +/- 0.34 mumol/kg/d and the mean +/- SEM molar ratio of 3MEH to creatinine was 0.0212 +/- 0.0012. These data were not significantly different from the control group at 95% confidence level. The results suggest that the contribution of the small intestine appears to be negligible, therefore urinary 3MEH should continue to be a valid index of skeletal muscle breakdown in man.

Primary malignant tumors of the small bowel.

Primary malignant tumors of the small bowel are uncommon and are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. A 10 year survey (1967 to 1977) of the clinical records at one hospital revealed 39 cases of primary malignant tumors of the small bowel. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (89.7 percent) and weight loss (77 percent). Six patients presented with complications of enterovesical fistula, bleeding and perforation. Preoperative diagnosis was suspected in 27 cases (69.2 percent). Adenocarcinoma was the most common tumor, followed by carcinoid tumor, lymphoma, leiomyosarcoma and melanoma. The treatment of choice was surgical resection whenever possible. Curative resection was attempted in 25 cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy was used in four patients with lymphoma. Twenty-seven patients (69.2 percent) are alive from 1 to 6 years after diagnosis and treatment. The 5 year survival rate is 35 percent. Earlier diagnosis is essential if the prognosis for patients with small bowel malignancy is to be improved.

Laser ablation of complex perianal fistulas preserves continence and is a rectum-sparing alternative in Crohn's disease patients.

A 20-year review of the inflammatory bowel disease surgical database of the author was analyzed for Crohn's disease (CD) patients who had a surgical approach to perianal fistula disease (PAD). Of 333 patients with CD operated between July 1977 and February 1997, 51 had procedures for PAD (15.3%), and 7 of these patients had laser ablation of severe, debilitating complex PAD (13.7%). These patients have traditionally been treated by diverting ileostomy or proctectomy with permanent diversion. Others have advocated conservative management with long-term antibiotics, staged operations, and insertion of multiple loose setons to promote drainage. This technique was adapted from the laser procedure now advocated for severe hydradenitis suppurativa. The hand-held CO2 laser was used to unroof all fistulas external to the external sphincter. Fistulas were identified by probing. Infected granulation tissue was removed by laser ablation until normal fat or muscle was revealed. Intersphincteric abscesses were unroofed, and a single seton was placed around the external sphincter for all but submucous fistulas. Patients were usually operated as outpatients with pain control effected with oral and transnasal agents. A laparoscopically performed temporary diverting ileostomy was used in one early patient in the series. Patients were followed, and progress was documented by physical examination and photographs. Quality of life was assessed. All patients improved remarkably from their preoperative state. The 4 patients in the group operated more than 1 year before this review have all demonstrated complete healing. The three more recent patients are in various stages of healing. Continence was preserved in 7 of 7 patients. No patient has required rectal excision. Recurrence thought to be related to associated hydradenitis has occurred in 1 patient. Laser ablation is a valuable technique in the management of patients with severe, debilitating complex PAD complicating CD. It effectively eradicates the septic tracks and pockets while preserving sphincter function. It obviates the need for diversion with or without proctectomy.

Ileoproctostomy is preferred over ileoanal pull-through in patients with indeterminate colitis.

A 15-year retrospective review was undertaken to evaluate the operative outcomes of patients with indeterminate colitis who were referred for rectal-sparing operations. Review of 95 consecutive patients operated for ulcerative colitis (UC) or indeterminate colitis (IC) revealed characteristics of IC in 13 patients. In the group as a whole, there were 45 females and 50 males; the average age was 33. A total of 64 patients had ileoanal pull-through (IAA). Analysis revealed that four of these patients had IC revealed by findings before operation in three patients and following the first stage of operation in one patient. Three of these four patients have subsequently required permanent ileostomy. Six patients who underwent IAA have subsequently demonstrated signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease (CD). All six have subsequently required ileostomy. Overall 10 patients with CD underwent IAA, and nine have required permanent ileostomy. Fourteen patients had ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) for UC or IC. IRA was performed for patients with IC in nine cases, and five patients with UC elected this operative option. Indications for IRA in patients with UC included obesity, 2; mental retardation, 1; advanced age, 1; and patient preference, 1. Of the patients with IC who underwent IRA, two have subsequently shown signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease. Overall, 14 of 14 patients who had IRA still have functioning IRA. None has required ileostomy. The poor results in patients with UC or IC subsequently shown to have CD have caused us to change our operative approach in patients with any question in the diagnosis of UC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Improved survival using oxygen free radical scavengers in the presence of ischemic bowel anastomosis.

A rat model was developed to determine the efficacy of oxygen free radical scavenger compounds in improving small bowel anastomotic healing in ischemia. 50 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent laparotomy and were divided into groups: I. sham operation; II. ischemia produced by ligation of mesenteric vessels along 3-5 cm of bowel; III. bowel transection and anastomosis; IV. ligation of vessels with bowel transection and anastomosis; V. ligation of vessels, bowel transection and IV administration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (5000 U/kg) prior to anastomosis. All surviving animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks. Anastomotic tensile strength and histology were evaluated. Percent survival and the average length of survival for all groups is seen in the table below. (table: see text) A significant decrease in survival was present with the anastomotic group and the ischemic anastomotic group when compared with controls. An improved survival similar to ischemia alone was present in SOD group. No significant difference was noted between SOD and control groups. The results of this study indicate an improved survival rate and length of survival similar to controls in animals undergoing ischemic and penetrating injury to the bowel with the use of oxygen free radical scavenger compounds prior to anastomosis.

Mucosal proctectomy and ileoanal pull-through technique and functional results in 23 consecutive patients.

Mucosal proctectomy with ileoanal pull-through in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis provides a technique for the preservation of the anal sphincters and relatively normal mechanisms of continence. Five patients had straight ileoanal anastomosis while 18 had the construction of a J-pouch. A two-team approach was used for simultaneous abdominal and perineal procedures to facilitate a shortened operating time. A loop ileostomy was routinely used in the postoperative period and was closed an average of 4.5 months (range: 2-16 months) later without complication. Prolonged preoperative hospitalization was rarely necessary and outpatient steroid enema preparation was routinely used. There were no deaths. Nineteen patients with functioning pull-through procedures have been followed an average of 23 months (range: 3-42 months). Two other patients have not had ileostomy closure because of complications. The two remaining patients had intractable diarrhea and have since undergone conversion to a permanent ileostomy. The 19 patients are continent, having three to nine bowel movements each day. Nearly all wear a perineal sanitary pad because of rare, unpredictable leakage of small amounts of fluid, especially at night. Complications were significant in this group of patients. Intestinal obstruction was a frequent problem, occurring in 52 per cent of the entire series and necessitating reoperation in 22 per cent. Anal stricture was a problem in another five patients. A variety of other minor problems occurred and most were treated nonoperatively. In spite of moderate diarrhea and occasional leakage of stool, all patients with functioning pull-through procedures prefer their current status to life with an ileostomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Home hyperalimentation for inflammatory bowel disease.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has become a useful tool in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the past, it was felt that TPN would have a therapeutic role in IBD, but experience has shown that it functions more as an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions. The specific roles of TPN in IBD include: (1) nutritional maintenance in the short bowel syndrome, (2) TPN as adjunctive therapy in jejunoileitis of Crohn's disease, (3) home TPN (HTPN) in Crohn's colitis, and (4) preoperative repletion of significantly depleted patients going to surgery. The adaptation of hospital techniques to the home situation has allowed patients to carry out long-term TPN therapy at home. Patients with IBD on HTPN are subject to the same mechanical and metabolic problems as are other patients on HTPN and, in addition, have a higher infection rate. When carried out appropriately, however, HTPN is a valuable technique in the management of patients with IBD and may provide an improved quality of life.

Intravenous pyelogram results in association with renal pathology and therapy in trauma patients.

The charts of 127 consecutive patients who sustained renal trauma between December 1977 and January 1984 were reviewed in order to relate the results of intravenous pyelogram (IVP) to the magnitude of renal pathology. Eighty-eight cases resulted from blunt trauma and 39 cases had penetrating injuries. There were 34 gunshot wounds and five stab wounds. An IVP was performed in 116 patients. All cases of blunt trauma with an IVP reported as normal had no renal pathology greater than contusion. Intravenous pyelogram results in penetrating injuries had a 75% false negative rate. Findings of nonvisualization or extravasation were significant for fractures, perforation, or pedicle injuries in all trauma. Eight of the patients with nonpenetrating wounds and 37 of the patients with penetrating injury underwent exploratory laparotomy. Sixteen nephrectomies were performed for a nephrectomy rate of 12.6% of the total series. This nephrectomy rate is comparable to similar studies which are reviewed.

Increased colonic mucosal angiotensin I and II concentrations in Crohn's colitis.

To define a potential role for the angiotensin system in Crohn's colitis, the colonic mucosal levels of angiotensin I and II were measured in endoscopic biopsy samples from patients with active Crohn's colitis (n = 20), ulcerative colitis (n = 13), other forms of colitis (n = 3), and normal controls (n = 17). Colonic mucosal levels of angiotensin I and II were greater in patients with Crohn's colitis than in normal subjects (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively). Mucosal levels of angiotensin I and II were also higher in Crohn's colitis than in ulcerative colitis (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively), and levels of angiotensin II were higher in Crohn's than in other forms of colitis (p = 0.014). Mucosal levels of angiotensin I and II correlated well with the degree of macroscopic inflammation in Crohn's colitis (r = 0.86, p less than 0.001 and r = 0.68, p less than 0.001, respectively). Mucosal levels of angiotensin I correlated fairly well with the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (r = 0.46, p less than 0.05) while angiotensin II levels correlated poorly. These studies suggest that angiotensin I and II may have a role in the inflammation associated with Crohn's colitis.

Linkage and linkage disequilibrium in chromosome band 1p36 in American Chaldeans with inflammatory bowel disease.

The idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are complex genetic disorders involving chronic inflammation of the intestines. Multiple genetic loci have been implicated through genome-wide searches, but refinement of localization sufficient to undertake positional cloning efforts has been problematic. This difficulty can be obviated through identification of ancestrally shared regions in genetic isolates, such as the Chaldean population, a Roman Catholic group from Iraq. We analyzed four multiply affected American Chaldean families with inflammatory bowel disease not known to be related. We observed evidence for linkage and linkage disequilibrium in precisely the same region of chromosome band 1p36 reported previously in an outbred population. Maximal evidence for linkage was observed near D1S1597 by multipoint analysis (MLOD = 3.01, P = 6.1 x 10(-5)). A shared haplotype (D1S507 to D1S1628) was observed over 27 cM between two families. There was homozygous sharing of a 5 cM portion of that haplotype in one family and over a <1 cM region in the second family. Homozygous sharing of this haplotype near D1S2697 and D1S3669 was observed in one individual in a third multiply affected family, with heterozygous sharing in a fourth family. Linkage in outbred families as well as in this genetic isolate indicates that a pathophysiologically crucial IBD susceptibility gene is located in 1p36. These findings provide a unique opportunity to refine the localization and identify a major susceptibility gene for a complex genetic disorder.