Is extended venous thromboprophylaxis required in patients undergoing ileal pouch procedure for ulcerative colitis?

AIM: Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are relatively common adverse surgical complications. Extended VTE prophylaxis for 4 weeks is recommended after colorectal cancer surgery, but its use in inflammatory bowel disease surgery lacks high-quality evidence. This retrospective study aimed to assess and characterize VTEs within the first 30 days after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) procedures and subtotal colectomies (STCs) for ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: All patients who underwent IPAA for UC between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021 were included. VTE rates after IPAA, in-hospital or at-home occurrences, utilization of in-hospital thromboprophylaxis, and prescribed anticoagulant treatment were evaluated. Retrospectively, the same variables were analysed if patients of the cohort underwent STC before the IPAA construction. RESULTS: In all, 204 patients underwent IPAA (61.8% men, 73% laparoscopic), with an average hospital stay of 6.8 days. Among them, 116 patients underwent STC prior to IPAA. Thirteen patients (6.3%) experienced VTEs after IPAA, with 76.9% (10/13) of cases occurring during hospitalization and under adequate thromboprophylaxis. The VTE rate after STC was 10.3% (12/116), with 58.2% (7/12) occurring in hospital and under appropriate thromboprophylaxis. No reoperations or mortality were attributed to thrombotic events. The type and duration of anticoagulant treatment varied considerably. CONCLUSION: The VTE rate after IPAA for UC was 6.3%, with the majority of events occurring in hospital and under adequate thromboprophylaxis. These findings suggest that routine use of extended VTE prophylaxis in our cohort may not be supported. Further research is needed to clarify the optimal VTE prophylaxis strategy for inflammatory bowel disease surgery.

Severity of inflammation as a risk factor for ileo-anal anastomotic leak after a pouch procedure in ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: The pelvic pouch procedure (PPP) carries significant post-operative complication risks including a 4-14 % risk of ileo-anal anastomotic (IAA) leak [1-4]. The aim of this study is to evaluate the severity of disease at the distal resection margin as an independent risk factor for an IAA leak following the PPP for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: A retrospective matched case-control study was undertaken. The distal margin of each subject's specimen was reviewed by a blinded pathologist and the degree of inflammation was scored using a modified histological activity index (mHAI)--a 0 to 5 graded scale with HAI of 5 representing ulcerations >25 % the depth of bowel wall. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients with perioperative IAA leaks (mean 11 days ±0.92) were identified and matched for gender, age and year of surgery. The case cohort had 33 males (67 %) of mean age at time of surgery of 36.3 years (±1.42). The severity of distal inflammation did not increase the risk of IAA leak. The presence of a diverting ileostomy was associated with a decreased incidence of an IAA leak (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Studies with greater power will be required to evaluate the association (if any) between histological severity of UC at the distal margin of a PPP procedure and IAA leak rate. This risk factor could influence preoperative management and post-operative outcome in patients requiring the PPP.

Proctocolectomy for colorectal cancer--is the ileal pouch anal anastomosis a safe alternative to permanent ileostomy?

PURPOSE: Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the procedure of choice in patients requiring surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). There are few data on reconstruction with the IPAA in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study assessed the outcomes of the IPAA compared to proctocolectomy and permanent ileostomy (PI) on these patients. METHODS: Between 1983 and 2013, over 2800 patients with CRC have been treated at the Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH). Demographic, surgical, pathological, and outcome data for all patients have been maintained in a database-73 patients were treated for CRC with proctocolectomy: 39 patients with IPAA and 34 patients with PI. Clinical features, pathologic findings, and survival outcomes were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Each group was similar with respect to gender, stage, and histologic grade. Patients undergoing IPAA were significantly younger. The diagnosis leading to proctocolectomy was more commonly UC or FAP in patients treated with IPAA (39/39 vs. 23/34, p = 0.001). Rectal cancer subgroups were similar in age, sex, TNM stage, T-stage, height of tumor, and histologic grade. There was no significant difference in overall or disease free survival between groups for colon or rectal primaries. Analysis using the Cochran-Armitage trend test suggests that utilization of IPAA has increased over time (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The IPAA is a viable and safe option to select for patients who would otherwise require PI. Increased experience and improved outcomes following IPAA has led to its more liberal use in selected patients.

Physicians' awareness of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal cancer carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Recent trials have shown that cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (S+HIPEC) for colorectal cancer carcinomatosis (CRC-C) leads to 5-year, disease-free survival rates of more than 30%. Since these data represent a substantial change in the management of CRC-C, the objectives of this study were to determine physicians' awareness of S+HIPEC for CRC-C and physician characteristics predictive of awareness of S+HIPEC for CRC-C. METHODS: This study was a mailed, cross-sectional survey of general surgeons and medical oncologists in Ontario. RESULTS: The response rate was 44.0% (214 of 487). Most respondents were men and younger than 50 years. There was an even split between those at academic and community hospitals. Overall, 46% of respondents were aware of S+HIPEC for CRC-C, and multivariate analysis showed that there were no physician characteristics predictive of awareness of S+HIPEC for CRC-C. CONCLUSION: Physician awareness of S+HIPEC for CRC-C is low. Therefore, strategies to improve patient and physician knowledge about S+HIPEC for CRC-C are important to ensure appropriate treatment for patients.

CONTEXTE: Des essais récents ont démontré que la chirurgie de réduction tumorale combinée à la chimiothérapie intrapéritonéale hyperthermique (S+HIPEC) contre la carcinomatose du cancer colorectal (C-CCR) produit des taux de survie sans maladie de 5 ans qui dépassent 30 %. Comme ces données représentent une modification importante de la prise en charge de la C-CCR, l'étude visait à déterminer si les médecins connaissent la technique S+HIPEC contre la C-CCR et les caractéristiques des médecins qui prédisent une connaissance de la technique S+HIPEC contre la C-CCR. MÉTHODES: L'étude consistait en un sondage transversal postal mené auprès de chirurgiens généraux et de médecins oncologues de l'Ontario. RÉSULTANTS: Le taux de réponse a atteint 44,0 % (214 sur 487). La plupart des répondants étaient des hommes de moins de 50 ans. La répartition entre les hôpitaux universitaires et les hôpitaux communautaires était égale. Dans l'ensemble, 46 % des répondants connaissaient la technique S+HIPEC contre la C-CCR et une analyse à variables multiples a montré qu'il n'y avait pas de caractéristiques des médecins qui pouvaient prédire la connaissance de la technique S+HIPEC contre la C-CCR. CONCLUSIONS: Les médecins connaissent peu la technique S+HIPEC contre la C-CCR. Des stratégies visant à améliorer la connaissance de la technique S+HIPEC contre la C-CCR chez les patients et les médecins sont importantes pour assurer le traitement approprié des patients.

Strictureplasty in selected Crohn's disease patients results in acceptable long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: Strictureplasty is an alternative to resection in patients with Crohn's disease. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of patients who have undergone strictureplasty. DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study. SETTING: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. PATIENTS: All patients who had a strictureplasty of the small bowel between 1985 and 2010 were identified from a prospective database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcomes were short-term complications, need for further surgery, and surgery-free survival. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine factors affecting the need for further surgery. Quality of life was measured by use of the short version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients (42 women; age at first strictureplasty, 33.4 ± 9.7 years) underwent 119 operations (range per patient, 1-4). The number of strictureplasties was 278 (range, 1-11), including 9 in the duodenum and 269 in the jejunum-ileum. The most common type of procedure was the Heineke-Mickulicz (258, 92.8%). Median follow-up of the patients was 94 months (interquartile range, 27-165 months). The surgery-free survival at 5 and 10 years was 70.7% (95% CI 59.8, 81.7) and 26.6% (95% CI 13.6, 39.6). In multivariate analysis, only age at the time of first strictureplasty was associated with the need for further surgery. Fifty-seven (64.8%) patients returned the questionnaire. The average score was 5.2 ± 1.2 (range, 2.2-7.0) with no significant differences between patients with or without previous surgery (p = 0.22), with or without simultaneous resection (p = 0.71) or with or without further surgery (p = 0.11). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its sample size and retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: Strictureplasty is a safe procedure with acceptable long-term outcomes. The risk of needing further surgery is high, which reflects the complexity of this disease. Younger age is associated with a higher risk of need for further surgery. However, most patients have a satisfactory quality of life.

Favorable pathologic and long-term outcomes from the conventional approach to abdominoperineal resection.

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal oncologic outcomes from abdominoperineal resection have been related to high rates of circumferential margin involvement. The extralevator approach has gained popularity as a means of reducing circumferential margin involvement, but it remains unknown whether comparable outcomes are achievable with a conventional approach to abdominoperineal resection. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the rate of circumferential margin involvement, to identify factors predictive for a positive circumferential margin, and to relate these findings to long-term outcomes. DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective clinical database. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a single center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto. PATIENTS: Patients were included who underwent abdominoperineal resection for low rectal adenocarcinoma between 1997 and 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures included the rate of circumferential margin involvement, local recurrence, and disease-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients underwent abdominoperineal resection for primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum. A positive circumferential margin was demonstrated in 18 patients (15.7%). Intraoperative perforations occurred in 7 patients (6.1%). Tumors located anteriorly had a higher rate of circumferential margin involvement (31.6%) compared with lateral (13%), posterior (10%), and circumferential tumors (0%) (P = .024). This finding was reflected by a reduced median distance to the circumferential margin in anterior tumors. Curative resections (n = 108) were followed up for a median of 55.5 months. The 5-year local recurrence rate was 10.6% and the 5-year disease-free survival was 67.4%. Cox regression analysis revealed that circumferential margin involvement was an independent predictor for local recurrence; and T-category, N-category, and circumferential margin involvement for disease-free survival. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its sample size and the number of outcome events. CONCLUSIONS: The conventional approach to abdominoperineal resection can produce oncologic outcomes comparable to the extralevator approach. However, the rate of circumferential margin involvement is higher than in restorative procedures and may be related to difficulties in obtaining adequate clearance in anterior tumors.

Oncologic outcome in patients with ulcerative colitis associated with dyplasia or cancer who underwent stapled or handsewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

PURPOSE: Ulcerative colitis is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a standard surgical management of patients with ulcerative colitis who have cancer or dysplasia, but the oncologic risk of stapled anastomosis vs mucosectomy with handsewn anastomosis is debated. We compare the risk of new cancer or recurrence in the pouch or rectal cuff in patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing stapled anastomosis vs mucosectomy with handsewn anastomosis. METHODS: This study was performed as a retrospective analysis of the clinical database at a single center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. The patients with ulcerative colitis associated with colorectal dysplasia or cancer who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis between 1981 and 2009 were evaluated. The development of dysplasia or cancer at ileoanal anastomosis or in the pelvic pouch was assessed. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients underwent stapled (n = 59) or handsewn (n = 22) ileal pouch-anal anastomosis; 52 had evidence of dysplasia and 29 had colorectal cancer (24 colon; 5 rectum) at the time of surgery. Median follow-up was 76.1 months. Two of 10 (20%) patients with handsewn anastomosis and 0% patients with stapled anastomosis developed metastatic cancer. One patient with a 33-year history of colitis, a previously resected right-sided colon cancer, and subsequent high-grade dysplasia in the rectum underwent a handsewn pelvic pouch and developed an unresectable adenocarcinoma at the cuff 4 years later. A second patient with a 10-year history of colitis underwent handsewn pelvic pouch and developed dysplasia in the pouch 8 years after surgery. Nine patients were dead at last follow-up (11%). Of those patients, both colorectal cancer-related deaths were in patients with handsewn anastomoses. Differences in overall 5-year survival between the groups did not reach statistical significance. This study was limited by the sample size in subgroups and the few outcome events. CONCLUSIONS: Performing a stapled ileal pelvic anal anastomosis does not appear to be inferior to mucosectomy and handsewn anastomosis in oncologic outcome, and it seems appropriate in patients with ulcerative colitis associated with coexisting dysplasia or cancer.

Physicians' awareness and attitudes toward decision aids for patients with cancer.

PURPOSE: Patient decision aids are interventions designed to help patients make deliberative choices about their treatment options and have been shown to significantly improve patient outcomes. Although considered optimal, decision aids are not widely used in clinical practice for cancer treatment. The objectives of this study are to determine physicians' awareness and use of decision aids, physicians' perceptions of the major barriers to the use of decision aids, and physician characteristics predictive of use of decision aids in clinical practice. METHODS: A population-based survey was mailed to general surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. RESULTS: The survey was mailed to 878 physicians, and the overall response rate to the survey was 64.5%. The majority of the participants were male and working in community hospitals for more than 10 years. Overall, 69% of the respondents were aware of decision aids, and 46% were aware of decision aids relevant to their practice. However, only 24% were currently using decision aids. The main barriers to the use of decision aids were reported as lack of awareness, lack of resources, and lack of time. Multivariate analysis showed specialty to be the only physician characteristic influencing the use of decision aids. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of physicians treating cancer patients are not aware of what decision aids are, and only 24% are currently using decision aids in clinical practice. Strategies to increase physician awareness about decision aids and to implement these tools into clinical practice are important.