The impact of mesenteric tension on pouch outcome and quality of life in patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy.

AIM: The study aimed to establish a method for the measurement of mesenteric tension after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and to evaluate the impact of tension on clinical outcome and quality of life. METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing an open IPAA from July 2008 to October 2009 were prospectively enrolled. After the creation of the anastomosis, mesenteric tension was estimated by the surgeon in the operating room on a 10-point scale (1, least tension; 10, most tension). The association was analysed between mesenteric tension defined as low (1-2), medium (3-7) and high (8-10) and postoperative complications and quality of life (Cleveland Clinic Global Scale). RESULTS: A mesenteric tension score was obtained in 134 patients (71 men, 53.0%). Median age was 38.5 (29.3-47.0) years. Fifty-six patients (41.8%) had a low, 59 (44.0%) a medium and 19 (14.2%) a high degree of mesenteric tension. Patients with a high mesenteric tension had a shorter anal transitional zone, a longer distance from the upper border of the symphysis pubis to the apex of the small bowel loop designated for the ileoanal anastomosis, a thinner abdominal wall at the stoma site and a longer distance from the pouch to the ileostomy. The proportion of patients with high mesenteric tension was less after stapled anastomosis. On long-term follow-up, patients with high mesenteric tension were more likely to suffer from anastomotic stricture and pouch failure. Pouch function was not influenced by mesenteric tension. CONCLUSION: High mesenteric tension after IPAA is adversely associated with postoperative complications and pouch survival.

Enterocutaneous fistulae in familial adenomatous polyposis patients with abdominal desmoid disease.

AIM: Enterocutaneous fistula is a severe complication of intra-abdominal desmoid disease. It is hard to repair because of the presence of the desmoid itself, the possibility of distal obstruction and the complexity of multiple laparotomies. Here we report the outcome of a series of patients presenting with abdominal desmoid disease and associated enterocutaneous fistula. METHOD: This is a retrospective, descriptive study of patients presenting to a hereditary colorectal cancer registry with familial adenomatous polyposis-related intra-abdominal desmoid disease and associated enterocutaneous fistulae. Patients were identified through the registry database and aspects of their treatment and outcome were abstracted. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (11 women, five men) were treated. The mean age at index surgery was 25.2 years and mean time to first fistula was 115.6 (± 92.7 standard deviation) months from index surgery. Index surgery included restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch (n = 9), colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (n = 4) and proctocolectomy with end ileostomy (n = 1). One patient had only a small bowel bypass and another did not have any index surgery. Ten patients underwent laparotomy for the enterocutaneous fistula; eight had a repair ± resection, one had a diversion and one a bypass. All eight patients who had a repair healed, and the bypassed fistula was successfully palliated. Three fistulae recurred and two were successfully repaired at a second procedure. One patient was explored but nothing could be done for the fistula. Two surgery patients died of causes unrelated to the fistula. Six patients received medical treatment, four of whom died. CONCLUSION: Selected desmoid-related enterocutaneous fistulae can be repaired successfully.

Small bowel obstruction in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis related desmoid disease.

AIM: Intra-abdominal desmoid disease is one of the most common extra-intestinal manifestations of familial adenomatous polyposis. Small bowel obstruction occurs frequently in affected patients and is notoriously difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to review the management and outcome of desmoid-related small bowel obstruction. METHOD: This was a retrospective, descriptive study of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and intra-abdominal desmoid disease who developed small bowel obstruction. Demographic data and data concerning the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of the bowel obstructions were abstracted from the polyposis database or patients' records. Patients with obstruction unrelated to desmoid disease were excluded. RESULTS: There were 47 patients (30 women and 17 men). Median age at first bowel obstruction was 24.2 (interquartile range 19.2-34.2) years. The median time from index surgery to first bowel obstruction was 4.1 (interquartile range 1.5-9.0) years. Twenty-two patients had a colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis and 21 a proctocolectomy and ileoanal pouch. Obstruction was treated medically in 29% of cases and surgically in 69%. Thirteen patients had total parental nutrition. Thirty (63.8%) had a second episode of small bowel obstruction at a mean of 5.3 years after the first, 50% of which were treated medically. Eighteen (37.5%) patients had more than two episodes of bowel obstruction. There were 118 operations, including lysis of adhesions (29), small bowel resection (14), bypass (12), ileostomy (12), desmoid excision (9) and stricturoplasty (2). CONCLUSION: Desmoid-related small bowel obstruction in familial adenomatous polyposis patients requires multiple surgical strategies to restore a patent gastrointestinal tract. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO THE LITERATURE?: This is the only series in the literature specifically addressing small bowel obstruction in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and intra-abdominal desmoid disease. The data show that small bowel obstruction is common, tends to recur, but can be successfully managed by a combination of medical and well selected surgical treatment.

Does intra-abdominal desmoid disease affect patients with an ileal pouch differently than those with an ileorectal anastomosis?

BACKGROUND: Nobody has analyzed the sequelae of desmoids according to the type of surgery that precipitated them. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether the clinical effects of abdominal desmoids would be worse in patients with restorative proctocolectomy than in patients with ileorectal anastomosis. DESIGN: This is a retrospective, database study. PATIENTS: Included were patients with familial adenomatous polyposis who had undergone proctocolectomy with IPAA or colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis, and subsequently developed an intra-abdominal desmoid tumor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were the clinical course of the desmoids; morbidity, and the requirement for stoma. RESULTS: There were 86 patients: 49 had restorative proctocolectomy and 37 had ileorectal anastomosis. Patient demographics were similar. Average follow-up was 9.8 years (range, 2.7-23.8) and 16.3 years (range, 2.3 - 42.9). Treatment of the desmoids included surgery (64.4% vs 65.6%), medical therapy (69.4% vs 59.5%), chemotherapy (36.2% vs 30.0%), and radiotherapy (4.5% vs 10.0%), and was the same for each group. The overall complication rate of desmoids was similar, approaching 70%. The risk of individual complications was also similar (bleeding (2.0% vs 0.0%), fistula (10.2% vs 13.5%), bowel obstruction (32.7% vs 48.6%), pain (34.7% vs 21.6%), and death related to desmoid tumors (2.0% vs 10.8%)); 38.8% of the restorative proctocolectomy group and 51.4% the ileorectal group had surgery for desmoid tumor complications (P = .21), and 22.4% and 22.2% of patients ultimately had permanent stomas. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the relatively small numbers of patients. CONCLUSION: The morbidity associated with desmoid tumors has not been shown to differ, whether they arise after restorative proctocolectomy or ileorectal anastomosis.