Determinants of long-term function and general well-being in patients with an ileoanal pouch.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fecal incontinence and/or evacuation difficulty are common after ileoanal pouch surgery. This study aimed to determine whether the development of these symptoms can be predicted so that preventive measures might be instituted. METHODS: A consecutive series of 46 patients with ulcerative colitis (median age at surgery, 41 years; 50% female) and a functioning pouch for a duration ≥12 months was included. Assessment utilized medical record review and questionnaires on pre- and postoperative bowel function, quality of life, and psychological well-being. Pouch function was assessed by the Colorectal Functional Outcome score (0 = no impairment, 100 = worst impairment). Good pouch function was defined as a score ≤24. RESULTS: Fecal incontinence occurred in 67% preoperatively and 54% postoperatively; evacuation difficulty occurred in 65% and preoperatively and 85% postoperatively. The postoperative median Colorectal Functional Outcome score was 20 (range 2-74), with 44% of patients >24 (poor pouch function). Preoperative nocturnal fecal incontinence (odds ratio [OR] 4.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-19.4, P = 0.02) and pouchitis (OR 5.41, 95% CI 1.2-23.7, P = 0.02) were associated with poor pouch function after multivariable regression analysis. Postoperative satisfaction, psychological well-being, and quality of life were significantly better in those with good pouch function, while poor sleep, impaired work, and sexual dysfunction were independently associated with poor pouch function. CONCLUSIONS: Functional bowel symptoms are common before and after pouch surgery and are associated with the impairment of patient-reported outcomes. Preoperative nocturnal fecal incontinence predicts poor pouch function. Therapeutic focus on continence, bowel evacuation, psychological well-being, and quality of life should begin before surgery.

Mesenteric embolization for lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

PURPOSE: Mesenteric embolization is an established treatment for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of angiography and embolization and its influencing factors. METHODS: A prospective database of all mesenteric angiograms performed for lower gastrointestinal bleeding at a tertiary center between 1998 and 2008 was analyzed in combination with chart review. RESULTS: There were 107 angiograms performed during 83 episodes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in 78 patients. Active bleeding was identified in 40 episodes (48%), and embolizations were performed in 37 (45%). One patient without active bleeding on angiogram also underwent embolization, making a total of 38 embolizations. Overall mortality was 7% with 4 deaths due to rebleeding and 2 deaths due to a medical comorbidity (respiratory failure, pneumonia). Short-term complications of angiography were false aneurysm (1 patient) and Enterobacter sepsis (1 patient). Long-term complications were groin lymphocele (1 patient) and late rebleed from collateralization (1 patient). In 43 episodes, angiography did not demonstrate active bleeding. Twelve (28%) of these patients continued to bleed, 9 of whom had successful surgery. Of the 38 patients who had embolizations, all had immediate cessation of bleeding. Nine patients (24%) later rebled; 5 of these patients required surgery and 3 had reembolizations. Of the 3 patients who underwent reembolization, 2 developed ischemic bowel and 1 stopped bleeding; surgery was required in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Mesenteric angiography for lower gastrointestinal bleeding effectively identifies the site of bleeding in 48% of patients and allows embolization in 45%. Embolization achieves clinical success in 76% of patients but repeat embolization is associated with a high rate of complications.

Bowel resection for severe endometriosis: an Australian series of 177 cases.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal resection for severe endometriosis has been increasingly described in the literature over the last 20 years. AIMS: To describe the experiences of three gynaecological surgeons who perform radical surgery for colorectal endometriosis. METHODS: The records of three surgeons were reviewed. Relevant information was extracted and complied into a database. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-seven women were identified as having undergone surgery between February 1997 and October 2007. The primary reason for presentation was pain in the majority of women (79%). Eighty-one segmental resections were performed, 71 disc excisions, ten appendicectomies and multiple procedures in ten women. The majority of procedures (81.4%) were performed laparoscopically. Histology confirmed the presence of disease in 98.3% of cases. A further 124 procedures to remove other sites of endometriosis were conducted, along with an additional 44 procedures not primarily for endometriosis. A total of 16 unintended events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds to the growing body of literature describing colorectal resection for severe endometriosis. Overall, the surgery appeared to be well tolerated, demonstrating the role for this surgery.

Rectal endometriosis: results of radical excision and review of published work.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to review the results of surgical excision of rectal endometriosis and review the published work on this challenging condition. METHODS: All cases of endometriosis involving the rectum treated by a single colorectal surgeon were identified from a prospective database and the results reviewed. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2005, 213 rectal procedures were carried out on 203 patients together with an endogynaecologist. Eighteen cases involved dissection of endometriosis off the rectal wall, 58 involved full-thickness excision of the anterior rectal wall and 137 segmental excisions of the rectum were carried out. A loop ileostomy was required in 7 (5%) of the segmental resections. Seventy-five per cent of the cases were either laparoscopic or laparoscopically assisted. Infertility was significantly more common in the group requiring a segmental resection (P=0.026) and a history of rectal pain during defecation more common in patients having dissection of endometriosis off the rectal wall (P=0.031). There were no other significant differences between the different types of rectal surgery. The morbidity for all rectal procedures was 7% and there was one anastomotic leak in the segmental resection group. The actuarial rectal recurrence rate of endometriosis was 22.2% 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.5, 42.0) for dissection off the rectal wall and this was significantly different from the recurrence of 5.17% 95%CI (0.0, 10.9) for anterior rectal wall excision and 2.19% 95%CI (0.0, 4.6) for segmental rectal resection (P=0.007). The overall rectal recurrence for all cases was 4.69% 95%CI (1.8, 7.5). CONCLUSION: Endometriosis of the rectum can be successfully treated with low morbidity and low recurrence rates by excising the disease as completely as possible using full-thickness excision of the anterior rectal wall or segmental resection of the rectum.

Endoscopic balloon dilatation of Crohn's strictures: a safe method to defer surgery in selective cases.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) provides a valuable alternative to surgery for strictures in Crohn's disease (CD). Data are lacking regarding the factors that improve the safety and effectiveness of EBD in CD. The aim of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of EBD and the clinical variables, which are predictive of successful treatment of CD strictures with EBD. METHODS: The records of all patients with CD in whom EBD was attempted between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed. Procedures were conducted at a single tertiary referral centre using a Boston Scientific CRE® TTS balloon. Technical success was defined as the ability to traverse the stricture with the endoscope and clinical success as the resolution of obstructive symptoms at review. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients with a total of 58 strictures (19 primary and 39 anastomotic strictures) were treated with EBD with median follow-up of 37 months. A total of 161 dilatation procedures were performed, with technical success reported in 139/158 (88%) cases and clinical success reported in 105/137 (76.7%) cases with complete data. Complications occurred in 7/161 dilatations (4.3% dilatations, 15% patients), three patients with perforation, one with acute bleeding and three admitted with abdominal pain. Eighteen of the 47 patients required surgery (38%). Strictures of <50 mm (P = 0.04) and those dilated to a diameter of ≥15 mm (P = 0.031) were less likely to require surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: EBD is safe for both primary and post-surgical strictures. Stricture length and diameter of dilatation are predictive of success. In selected patients, treatment with EBD may reduce or delay the need for surgery.

Anterior rectal wall excision for endometriosis using the circular stapler.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis involving the rectum is rare but is associated with significant symptoms that are best relieved by resection of the involved segment of rectum. Resection necessitates either a segmental or anterior rectal wall excision with sutured closure. Application of a circular stapling device allows an alternative technique to resect endometriosis in this area. METHOD: Following laparoscopic ablation of endometriosis elsewhere in the pelvis, the rectum must be mobilized around disease present on the anterior rectal wall. This will involve lateral and anterior extraperitoneal rectal dissection; the latter dissection mobilizing the vagina from the rectum by a sufficient length necessary to allow imbrication of the diseased area. Insertion of a circular stapler per anus allows the diseased area to be imbricated into the stapler, resulting in simultaneous excision and closure of the anterior rectal wall. RESULTS: Thirty patients with anterior rectal wall endometriosis, estimated at <2 cm in diameter and not involving > one-third of the total circumference of the rectum, have undergone successful management using this technique. Morbidity occurred in four patients, with one patient requiring further surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic disc excision of deposits of endometriosis involving the anterior rectal wall can be safely performed utilizing the circular stapler without the need for open surgery, and with low morbidity.