Revisional and Reconstructive Surgery for Failing IPAA is Associated with Good Function and Pouch Salvage in Highly Selected Patients.

BACKGROUND: Revisional and reconstructive surgery for IPAA is rare given the high success of pouch surgery for chronic ulcerative colitis. Limited data exist on both surgical and functional outcomes in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis who undergo IPAA revision or reconstruction. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the surgical and functional outcome in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis who undergo IPAA revision or reconstruction. DESIGN: A prospectively collected surgical database was accessed for this study. SETTING: This study was conducted at an IBD referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with chronic ulcerative colitis who underwent IPAA revision or reconstruction were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were 30-day postoperative outcomes and long-term pouch function. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were identified. Original IPAA was performed for chronic ulcerative colitis (n = 71; 88%) and indeterminate colitis (n = 11; 12.%), and the most common configuration was a J-pouch (n = 69; 86%) with handsewn anastomosis (n = 41;68%). No independent predictors of 30-day postoperative complications following reconstructive/revisional surgery were identified. Pelvic abscesses and Crohn's disease of the pouch were independently associated with ultimate pouch excision. Median follow-up following revision/reconstruction was 40 months (range, 1-292 months) during which 15 patients (23%) had pouch failure. The 5- and 10-year pouch survival rates following revision were 85 ± 5% and 65 ± 9% by Kaplan-Meier estimation; age <30 years was significantly associated with pouch survival. Long-term function (n = 30; 35%) compared with a matched control cohort of primary IPAA was characterized by significantly increased daytime bowel incontinence (p = 0.0119), liquid stool (p = 0.0062), and medication to thicken stools (p = 0.0452). LIMITATIONS: This was a single-center series, and response rate for functional data was 35%. CONCLUSIONS: In properly selected patients with a failing pouch, originally made for chronic ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis, revisional and reconstructive surgery is associated with low complication rates, high pouch salvage, and acceptable long-term pouch function. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A640.

Early Diuresis After Colon and Rectal Surgery Does Not Reduce Length of Hospital Stay: Results of a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Excessive perioperative fluid administration likely increases postoperative cardiovascular, infectious, and GI complications. Early administration of diuretics after elective surgery facilitates rapid mobilization of excess fluid, potentially leading to decreased bowel edema, more rapid return of bowel function, and reduced length of hospital stay. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of early diuresis after elective colon and rectal surgery in the setting of an enhanced recovery after surgery practice. DESIGN: This was a prospective study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a quaternary referral center. PATIENTS: A randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial was conducted in patients undergoing elective colon and rectal surgery at a single quaternary referral center. INTERVENTION: The primary intervention was administration of intravenous furosemide plus enhanced recovery after surgery on postoperative day 1 and 2 versus enhanced recovery after surgery alone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included 30-day readmission rate, time to stool output during hospitalization after surgery, and incidence of various complications within the first 48 hours of hospital stay. RESULTS: In total, 123 patients were randomly assigned to receive either furosemide plus enhanced recovery after surgery (n = 62) or enhanced recovery after surgery alone (n = 61). Groups were evenly matched at baseline. At interim analysis, length of hospital stay was not superior in the intervention group (80.6 vs 99.6 hours, p = 0.564). No significant difference was identified in the rates of nasogastric tube replacement (1.6% vs 9.7%, p = 0.125). Time to return of bowel function was significantly longer in the intervention group (45.4 vs 48.8 hours, p = 0.048). The decision was made to end the study early because the conditional power of the study favored futility. LIMITATIONS: This was a single-center study. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of furosemide does not significantly reduce the length of hospital stay after elective colon and rectal surgery in the setting of enhanced recovery after surgery practice. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A714.

Impact of sex on 30-day complications and long-term functional outcomes following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of patient sex on operative characteristics, short-term complications, and long-term functional outcomes following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all patients undergoing two- or three-stage IPAA for CUC at our institution between January 2002 and August 2013. Patient demographics, operative characteristics, 30-day postoperative complications, and long-term functional outcomes from annual survey data were analyzed comparing men and women patients. RESULTS: During the study period, 911 IPAAs (542 men, 369 women) were performed. Men were older and were more often obese (both p < 0.01). Use of a three-stage approach and laparoscopic approach were similar between men and women, but operation length, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital length of stay were all higher in men (all p < 0.05). At 30 days, women had increased rates of superficial surgical site infections and urinary tract infections (both p < 0.05), while men had increased rates of urinary retention (p = 0.03). Five hundred forty-six patients (60%; 307 men, 239 women) responded to the annual post IPAA survey with a median follow-up of 5.1 and 5.0 years in men and women, respectively. Women reported increased frequency of daytime stools in the early follow-up period, but this difference resolved with time. Other functional outcomes were similar. CONCLUSION: Patient sex impacts intraoperative complexity, postoperative length of stay, 30-day postoperative outcomes, and initial long-term function. These findings underscore the need to adjust preoperative counseling regarding IPAA outcomes based on sex.

Crohn's Disease of the Pouch: A True Diagnosis or an Oversubscribed Diagnosis of Exclusion?

BACKGROUND: After IPAA, 8% of patients with ulcerative colitis are later diagnosed with Crohn's disease of the pouch, associated with an increased rate of pouch failure. No study has reported on how often the clinical diagnosis is correlated with histologic findings of Crohn's disease in the excised pouch. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the clinical diagnosis is consistent with pathologic confirmation at pouch excision. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary IBD referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with chronic ulcerative colitis who underwent pouch excision for presumed Crohn's disease of the pouch were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative evaluation and pathologic variables at the time of pouch excision were measured. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients underwent pouch excision for Crohn's disease of the pouch based on a combination of clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic findings. Seven (20%) had surgical pathology consistent with Crohn's disease at pouch excision. There were no differences in those 7 patients and the remaining 28 in terms of diagnosis at colectomy, primary pouch symptoms, prepouch inflammation, ulceration, or granulomas at endoscopy. In the nonpathology-confirmed Crohn's disease, 40% (n = 11) had an anastomotic leak at time of IPAA versus 0% in the Crohn's disease group, and 86% (n = 24) had symptoms of pouch dysfunction within 5 months of ileostomy reversal versus 13 months in the Crohn's disease group. Of 28 without pathology-confirmed Crohn's disease, 100% (n = 28) were treated with antibiotics, 68% (n = 19) with steroids, 59% (n = 16) with immunomodulators, and 57% (n = 15) with biologic therapy for Crohn's disease of the pouch. LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its single-center scope and lack of an established definition for Crohn's disease of the pouch. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic confirmation of Crohn's disease was given to only one fifth of patients who underwent pouch excision for Crohn's disease of the pouch. Given the histologic variability in Crohn's disease, it may be unreasonable to expect histologic confirmation in every case; still, the diagnosis of Crohn's disease of the pouch may be overly ascribed, resulting in unnecessary immunosuppressive medications and exclusion from consideration for pouch reconstructive surgery. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCRA432.

Analysis of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Chronic Ulcerative Colitis: Is It the Disease or the Operation?

BACKGROUND: Patients with IBD have a higher baseline risk of venous thromboembolism, which further increases with surgery. Therefore, extended venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis has been suggested in certain high-risk cohorts. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the underlying diagnosis, operative procedure, or both influence the incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism. DESIGN: This was a retrospective review. SETTINGS: The American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database was analyzed. PATIENTS: The NSQIP database was queried for patients with chronic ulcerative colitis and non-IBD undergoing colorectal resections using surgical Current Procedural Terminology codes modeled after the 3 stages used for the surgical management of chronic ulcerative colitis from 2005 to 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured 30-day postoperative venous thromboembolism risk in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis based on operative stage and risk factors for development of venous thromboembolism. RESULTS: A total of 18,833 patients met inclusion criteria, with an overall rate of venous thromboembolism of 3.8. Among procedure risk groups, venous thromboembolism rates were high risk, 4.4%; intermediate risk, 1.6%; and low risk, 0.7% (across risk groups, p < 0.01). Emergent case subjects exhibited a higher rate of venous thromboembolism than their elective counterparts (6.9% vs 3.1%). Factors significantly associated with venous thromboembolism on adjusted analysis included emergent risk case (adjusted OR = 7.85), high-risk elective case (adjusted OR = 5.07), intermediate-risk elective case (adjusted OR = 2.69), steroid use (adjusted OR = 1.54), and preoperative albumin <3.5 g/dL (adjusted OR = 1.45). LIMITATIONS: Because of its retrospective nature, correlation between procedures and venous thromboembolism risk can be demonstrated, but causation cannot be proven. In addition, data on inpatient and extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis use are not available. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent status and operative procedure are the 2 highest risk factors for postoperative venous thromboembolism. Extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis might be appropriate for patients undergoing these high-risk procedures or any emergent colorectal procedures. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A339.

Long-standing Crohn's disease and its implication on anal squamous cell cancer management.

BACKGROUND: Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is rare, accounting for only 1% of gastrointestinal malignancies. We sought to better understand management strategies for ASCC in the setting of Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: A retrospective chart review from 2001 to 2016 was conducted using ICD-9/10 codes for CD (555.9/K50) and ASCC (154.3/C44.520). Adult patients with a diagnosis of CD at the time of ASCC diagnosis were included. RESULTS: Seven patients (five female) were included with a median age of 50 years. The majority presented with perianal pain (three) and bleeding (four). Mean duration of CD was 20 years. Five patients had active perianal fistulizing disease at the time of ASCC diagnosis. Clinical stage at diagnosis of ASCC was stage 0 (n = 1), stage I (n = 1), stage II (n = 1), stage III (n = 2), stage IV (n = 1), and unknown (n = 1). All patients were treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Three patients experienced complications during radiation therapy: fistulizing disease, stenotic disease, and flap necrosis. Two patients had persistent disease at 6 months; one patient underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR) and the other chemotherapy and radiation. Two patients developed locally residual and metastatic disease and died within 1 year of diagnosis. Five-year disease-free survival was 56%. CONCLUSIONS: While the standard Nigro protocol remains standard of care in patients with ASCC, in the setting of CD, patients may be best approached as a case-by-case basis and may even require an operation first due to complications from radiation and aggressive nature of disease. Due to poor treatment outcomes, surveillance guidelines for this patient population are necessary.

Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life Following Surgery for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a progressive, recurrent inflammatory disorder. OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term satisfaction and postoperative perceptions among patients who underwent surgical management of HS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 499 HS surgical patients to assess surgical outcome, satisfaction, and quality of life. RESULTS: Of the 499 questionnaires mailed, 113 were returned (22.6% response rate) and 2 were excluded for redundancy. Of the 111 respondents, 65 (58.6%) were female, 91 (82.0%) had Hurley Stage III disease, 88 (79.3%) were treated with excision and 23 (20.7%) with unroofing, 45 (40.5%) had perianal or perineal disease, and 41 (36.9%) had axillary disease. Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their surgical results (84.7%; 94 of 111), were glad they underwent surgery (96.3%; 105 of 109), and would recommend surgery to a friend or relative (82.6%; 90 of 109). Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the appearance of their healed wound (62.4%; 68 of 109). Retrospective mean quality of life increased significantly from 5 preoperatively to 8.4 postoperatively (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Hidradenitis suppurativa surgical management was well regarded by patients and should be considered by future patients to limit the morbidity of HS.

The Role of Temporary Fecal Diversion.

The use of temporary fecal diversion is of great importance to tenuous anastomosis, immunosuppressed patient, or actively infected patient. Its use protects newly constructed intestinal anastomoses from being the culprit of pelvic sepsis or systemic illness. Thus, potential morbidity and mortality can be averted. However, its appropriate or optimal use is often debated. We herein discuss the evidence for when to best use a diverting stoma for colorectal, coloanal, and ileoanal anastomoses. We also discuss the importance of considering a temporary diverting stoma in the setting of high-dose immunosuppression (e.g., transplant patients or inflammatory bowel disease), active infection, or upon creation of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Lastly, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a loop ileostomy versus colostomy for temporary diversion of fecal contents.

Impact of BMI on Ability to Successfully Create an IPAA.

BACKGROUND: IPAA is the surgical treatment of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis. Limited data exist on how obesity impacts the ability of the surgeon to successfully create an IPAA. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine how BMI affects the ability to successfully complete the operation. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a single tertiary care center. PATIENTS: We included all of the patients undergoing an IPAA for ulcerative colitis between January 2002 and August 2013 at our institution. A total of 1175 patients underwent proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis during the study period; 129 were not offered IPAA (reasons included patient preference (n = 53), advanced age/comorbidity (n = 28), obesity (n = 23), incontinence (n = 8), suspicion of Crohn's disease (n = 8), rectal cancer (n = 3), and other (n = 6)). Twenty-six patients had a concurrent cancer diagnosis, and 5 had a polyposis syndrome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used logistic regression modeling to estimate the association between BMI and unsuccessful pouch attempts. RESULTS: Of the 1046 patients offered IPAA, 19 (1.82%) could not be technically completed at the time of surgery. Increasing BMI was associated with a higher risk of not being able to technically perform IPAA (OR = 1.26 (95% CI, 1.17-1.34)). The chance of an unsuccessful pouch rose from 2.0% at a BMI of 30 to 5.7% at a BMI of 35 and 15.0% at a BMI of 40 (p < 0.01). The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve was 0.82. BMI explained 21% of the variation in pouch success rate. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited in its generalizability. Also, the verbosity within the operative dictations varied among surgeons, making it impossible to be certain which maneuvers were performed to gain length in each patient. In addition, we were limited to BMI as a surrogate for visceral obesity, and we did not include medical therapy at the time of IPAA attempt. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between increasing BMI and the ability to technically perform IPAA. Obese patients should be counseled to lose weight preoperatively to increase the probability of successful IPAA construction at the time of operation.

Benefit of Postresection Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage III Colon Cancer in Octogenarians: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials demonstrate that postresection chemotherapy conveys survival benefit to patients with stage III colon cancer. It is unclear whether this benefit can be extrapolated to the elderly, who are underenrolled in clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes of selected octogenarians with stage III colon cancer with/without postresection adjuvant therapy. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study (2006-2011) using unadjusted Kaplan-Meier and adjusted Cox proportional hazards analyses of overall survival. SETTING: The study was conducted with the National Cancer Database. PATIENTS: We included patients 80 to 89 years of age who were undergoing curative-intent surgery for stage III colon cancer and excluded patients who received neoadjuvant therapy, died within 6 weeks of surgery, or had high comorbidity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall survival was the main measure. RESULTS: A total of 8141 octogenarians were included; 3483 (42.8%) received postresection chemotherapy, and 4658 (57.2%) underwent surgery alone. Patients receiving chemotherapy were younger (82.0 vs 84.0 years; p < 0.001), healthier (73.1% vs 70.4% with no comorbidities; p = 0.009), and more likely to have N2 disease (40.4% vs 32.8%; p < 0.001). Overall survival was improved in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (median = 61.7 vs 35.0 months; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of patients offered chemotherapy but refusing (n = 1315) demonstrated overall survival worse than those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (median = 42.7 vs 61.7 months; p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounders showed therapy with surgery alone to be independently associated with increased mortality hazard (HR = 1.83; p < 0.001), and the mortality hazard remained elevated in patients who voluntarily refused adjuvant therapy (HR = 1.45; p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its retrospective, nonrandomized design. CONCLUSIONS: In selected octogenarians with stage III colon cancer, postresection adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with superior overall survival. However, less than half of the octogenarians with stage III colon cancer in the National Cancer Database received it. The remaining majority, who were all fit and survived ≥6 weeks postsurgery, could have derived benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. This represents a substantial opportunity for quality improvement in treating octogenarians with stage III colon cancer.

Surgical Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Outcomes of 590 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a progressive, recurrent inflammatory disease. Surgical management is potentially curative with limited efficacy data. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hidradenitis surgical patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of outcomes of 590 consecutive surgically treated patients. RESULTS: Most patients were white (91.0% [435/478]), men (337 [57.1%]), smokers (57.7% [297/515]) with Hurley Stage III disease (476 [80.7%]). Procedure types were excision (405 [68.6%]), unroofing (168 [28.5%]), and drainage (17 [2.9%]) treating disease of perianal/perineum (294 [49.8%]), axilla (124 [21.0%]), gluteal cleft (76 [12.9%]), inframammary (12 [2.0%]), and multiple surgical sites (84 [14.2%]). Postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (2.5%) and one-fourth (144 [24.4%]) suffered postoperative recurrence, which necessitated reoperation in one-tenth (69 [11.7%]) of patients. Recurrence risk was increased by younger age (hazard ratio [HR], 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-0.9), multiple surgical sites (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5), and drainage-type procedures (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.2-10.7). Operative location, disease severity, gender, and operative extent did not influence recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Excision and unroofing procedures were effective treatments with infrequent complications and low recurrence rates. Well-planned surgical treatment aiming to remove or unroof the area of intractable hidradenitis suppurativa was highly effective in the management of this challenging disease.

New developments in colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Surgical management of diseases of the colon and rectum continues to evolve. This review examines the recent publications that have led to or may lead to changes in practice in this field. RECENT FINDINGS: We identified and reviewed the recent publications in the areas of colon, rectal, and anal cancers; inflammatory bowel disease; incontinence; diverticulitis; hemorrhoids; fistulas; and quality improvement initiatives. SUMMARY: New technologies and novel questions have changed practice and will improve patient outcomes. Multiinstitutional studies, ideally randomized, continue to be essential to answer the questions that will lead to identification of best practices.

Dysplasia in ulcerative colitis as a predictor of unsuspected synchronous colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic surveillance of patients with ulcerative colitis aims to prevent cancer-related morbidity through the detection and treatment of dysplasia. The literature to date varies widely with regard to the importance of dysplasia as a marker for colorectal cancer at the time of colectomy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to accurately characterize the extent to which the preoperative detection of dysplasia is associated with undetected cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis. DESIGN/PATIENTS/SETTING: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients undergoing surgery for colitis within the Mayo Clinic Health System between August 1993 and July 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics and pre- and postoperative dysplasia were tabulated. The relationship between pre- and postoperative dysplasia/cancer in surgical pathology specimens was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 2130 patients underwent abdominal colectomy or proctocolectomy; 329 patients were identified (15%) as having at least 1 focus of dysplasia preoperatively. Of these 329 patients, the majority were male (69%) with a mean age of 49.7 years. Unsuspected cancer was found in 6 surgical specimens. Indeterminate dysplasia was not associated with cancer (0/50). Preoperative low-grade dysplasia was associated with a 2% (3/141) risk of undetected cancer when present in random surveillance biopsies and a 3% (2/79) risk if detected in endoscopically visible lesions. Similarly, 3% (1/33) of patients identified preoperatively with random surveillance biopsy high-grade dysplasia harbored undetected cancer. Unsuspected dysplasia was found in 62/1801 (3%) cases without preoperative dysplasia. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its retrospective nature and by its lack of evaluation of the natural history of dysplastic lesions that progress to cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of dysplasia was associated with a low risk of unsuspected cancer at the time of colectomy. These findings will help inform the decision-making process for patients with ulcerative colitis who are considering intensive surveillance vs surgical intervention after a diagnosis of dysplasia.

Improving conventional recovery with enhanced recovery in minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery pathways have been shown to decrease the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Few reports have studied patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to review our experience in minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery. We report short-term outcomes and evaluate the potential advantages of the enhanced recovery protocol compared with our less intensive conventional pathway. DESIGN: This is a consecutive retrospective study of all minimally invasive rectal cancers treated from February 2005 to December 2011. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors contributing to a short length of stay. SETTINGS: This study was performed at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 2005 and 2011. PATIENTS: A total of 346 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-eight patients were managed under the enhanced recovery pathway. Patients underwent either laparoscopic-, robotic-, or hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. INTERVENTIONS: All patients followed either a standardized conventional pathway or an enhanced recovery pathway for perioperative care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the length of stay. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and 30-day readmissions. RESULTS: Hospital stay was significantly decreased for patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer and were managed with an enhanced recovery protocol, 4.1 days, vs 6.1 days for the conventional pathway (95% CI, -2.9 to -1.2 days; p < 0.0001). Rates of complications were similar between the 2 groups. Factors associated with shorter length of stay included the enhanced recovery protocol and laparoscopic or robotic surgery compared with hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study at a single institution. Additional limitations include the comparison with historical controls and the potential for selection bias. CONCLUSION: The enhanced recovery pathway is associated with a significantly decreased length of hospital stay after minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer in this series. Decreased hospital stay was achieved without affecting short-term outcomes.

New developments in colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The field of colorectal surgery continues to move forward as technical innovations emerge and as surgeons ask critical questions. The results of subsequent investigations often lead to changes in practice. This review examines recent publications that describe these practice changes. RECENT FINDINGS: We identified and reviewed recent publications in the areas of rectal cancer controversies, genetic risk profiling, practice improvements, diverticulitis, enhanced recovery protocols, fecal incontinence, and single incision laparoscopic surgery. SUMMARY: New technologies and practice innovations will continue to enhance patient outcomes. Multiinstitutional studies, randomized when able, are necessary to further define the safety and efficacy of new surgical techniques and to further define best practices in colorectal surgery.

Drivers of cost after surgical and medical therapy for chronic ulcerative colitis: a nested case-cohort study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported the costs associated with surgery for chronic ulcerative colitis in the Olmsted County population and found that direct medical costs after surgery were significantly reduced compared with before surgery. However, in that study, costs associated with chronic medical therapy for ulcerative colitis were not assessed in nonsurgical patients. OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the drivers of costs of treatment for chronic ulcerative colitis, we assessed direct costs after surgical and medical therapy in 120 patients in the Rochester Epidemiology Project database. METHODS: A cohort of 60 patients who recovered from surgery for ulcerative colitis from 1988 to 2006 were 1:1 matched by age, sex, and referent year to medically managed patients. Direct health care costs were estimated from an institutional database, and observed cost differences over a 2-year period were calculated. Statistical significance was assessed by paired t tests and bootstrapping; mean costs are adjusted 2009 constant dollars. RESULTS: Two-year direct health care costs in the surgical and medical cohorts were $10,328 vs $6,586 (p = 0.19). In the surgical cohort, Brooke ileostomy patients were observed to have higher costs than patients with ileal pouches ([INCREMENT]$8187, p = 0.04), and after ileal pouch, pouchitis was associated with increased costs ([INCREMENT]$12,763, p < 0.01). In the medical cohort, disease extent ([INCREMENT]$6059, p = 0.04) but not disease severity was associated with increased costs. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the relatively small population size and by its performance in a county with a tertiary referral center. CONCLUSIONS: Before the introduction of biologic therapies for ulcerative colitis, patients were observed to have similar health care costs after surgical and medical therapy. In medically treated patients, disease extent was associated with increased costs, whereas in surgically treated patients, permanent ileostomy and pouchitis were observed to be associated with increased costs.

New developments in colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: New developments in colorectal surgery have been driven primarily by technical innovations, which in turn are responsible for changes in practice. This review examines recent publications that describe and have contributed to these changes. RECENT FINDINGS: We identified and reviewed recent publications in the areas of fecal incontinence, constipation, single incision and robotic surgical techniques, complex anal fistulas, diverticulitis, local excision techniques for rectal neoplasms, surgical care improvement, use of mechanical bowel preparation, and magnetic resonance imaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. SUMMARY: New technologies and practice innovations will enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. Multiinstitutional studies, randomized when practical, will be necessary to further define the safety and efficacy of these new surgical techniques and to further define best practices in colon and rectal surgery.

Utility and short-term outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a single-institution experience in 1103 patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite its introduction in 1991, laparoscopic colectomy is performed in <10% of United States patients requiring colectomy. Laparoscopic colectomy is avoided principally because of its technical difficulty, steep learning curve, and increased operative times. Hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy is an alternative technique that addresses these problems while preserving the short-term benefits of laparoscopic colectomy. OBJECTIVE: To describe the utility and short-term outcomes, we evaluated 1103 patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal resections over a 5-year period. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTINGS: The setting was a single tertiary care institution. PATIENTS: A total of 1103 consecutive hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal resections from 2004 to 2009 were identified using a prospectively maintained database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics, perioperative variables, and 30-day outcomes were reported. Data are presented as frequency (proportion) or median (interquartile range). RESULTS: A total of 1103 hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal resections were documented. Median age of patients was 55 years; 47% were women, and median body mass index was 26.5 (range, 23-34) kg/m. Diagnoses included inflammatory bowel disease (35%), colorectal cancer (31%), diverticular disease (23%), and "other" (11%). Forty-two percent of patients had prior abdominal surgery. Segmental colectomies were performed in 533 (48%) patients, proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in 229 (21%), proctocolectomy with end ileostomy in 114 (10%), and "other" in 227 (21%). The conversion rate was 9%. Overall median operative time was 201 (range, 145-269) minutes, and the median postoperative length of stay was 5 (range, 4-7) days. Postoperative complications occurred in 27% and readmissions in 7%; mortality was 0.3%. LIMITATIONS: This was a single institutional retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal resection can be performed for numerous indications. It preserves nearly all the benefits of laparoscopic colectomy reported in the literature. With experience, it is associated with significantly reduced operative times. Wider adoption of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery would increase the number of patients benefiting from minimal access colorectal surgery.

Advantages of fast-track recovery after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fast-track (FT) recovery protocols have demonstrated advantages over historical recovery routines after open colectomy; however, their impact in recovery after laparoscopic colectomy is not clearly defined. This study was designed to determine whether patients who recover on FT protocol after laparoscopic colectomy have a shorter length of stay (LOS) and fewer complications compared with patients who recover on standard (non-FT) protocol. METHODS: A cohort of consecutive patients with colon cancer who underwent completed laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy from 2005-2007 was identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to identify risk factors for increased LOS and postoperative complications with recovery protocol as the primary predictor. RESULTS: A total of 197 patients were included: 115 (58%) patients recovered on a non-FT protocol, and 82 (42%) patients on FT protocol. Univariate analysis showed no differences with respect to age, gender, body mass index, or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class between groups. The median (interquartile range) LOS was 4 (range, 3-6) days and 3 (range, 3-4) days for the non-FT and FT recovery patients, respectively (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for increased LOS were complications (p < 0.001) and non-FT recovery (p = 0.007). Non-FT recovery also was associated with increased complications (56 vs. 29%, p = 0.0002); this remained significant on multivariate analysis (p < 0.001). Readmissions were similar (p = 1.0) between recovery groups. No mortalities were observed at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Fast-track recovery is independently associated with a shorter LOS and decreased morbidity after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.