Intestinal mucosa-associated microflora in ulcerative colitis patients before and after restorative proctocolectomy with an ileoanal pouch.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify the mucosa-associated microflora in patients with severe ulcerative colitis before and after restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch construction in comparison with historic controls. METHODS: Ten patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis were evaluated. Mucus was collected during colonoscopy from all segments of the colon and terminal ileum before surgery, and from the ileal pouch two and eight months after ileostomy closure. The prevalence and mean concentration of the mucosa-associated microflora were compared over time and with historic controls. RESULTS: Veillonella sp was the most prevalent bacterium in patients and controls. Klebsiella sp was significantly more prevalent in the ileum of controls, was not found in patients with ulcerative colitis, and after proctocolectomy returned to values found in controls. Some bacteria such as Enterobacter sp, Staphylococcus sp (coag-), Bacteroides sp (npg), Lactobacillus sp, and Veillonella sp had higher mean concentrations in the ileal pouch of patients after surgery than in controls. CONCLUSION: No bacterium was identified that could be exclusively responsible for the maintenance of the inflammatory process. The mucosa-associated microflora of patients with ulcerative colitis underwent significant changes after proctocolectomy with ileal pouch construction and returned to almost normal values for some bacteria.

DNA ploidy status and prognosis in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of published data.

PURPOSE: In colorectal cancer, the negative effect of aneuploidy has been a controversy for more than 20 years. Studies to determine a survival-deoxyribonucleic acid content relationship have conflicting results. A systematic literature search followed by a meta-analysis of published studies addressing prognostic effect of aneuploidy for patients who underwent surgical treatment of colon and rectal cancer was conducted. METHODS: The main outcome measure was the five-year overall mortality rate after surgical resection. For the selected studies, we estimated this outcome for three subsets of patients through separate meta-analyses: 1) for all patients with colorectal cancer; 2) only between patients with Stage II colon cancer; and 3) only for studies in which follow-up losses were declared. The presence of publication bias was assessed with a funnel plot for asymmetry. RESULTS: A total of 5,478 patients with colorectal cancer were represented in 32 studies (Group 1), we estimated a reduction in the five-year overall mortality from 43.2 percent for aneuploid tumors to 29.2 percent for diploid tumors (combined relative risk = 1.44; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.34-1.55; P < 0.001). In addition, 357 patients with Stage II colon cancer (Group 2) extracted from three studies had an absolute reduction of 14.3 percent in five-year overall mortality favoring diploid tumors (combined relative risk = 1.93; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.29-2.89; P = 0.001). Lastly, of 14 studies in which follow-up losses were declared (Group 3), 2,221 patients were represented and a 15.7 percent mortality reduction was measured favoring patients with diploid tumors (combined relative risk = 1.44; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.3-1.61; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo an aneuploid colorectal cancer surgical resection have a higher risk of death after five years. This finding may ultimately impact survival of patients with node-negative colon cancer through adjuvant therapy.

Relato de caso: herpes-zoster após o uso de infliximabe / Case report: herpes zoster after infliximab infusion

O uso de drogas biológicas como o anti-TNF (infliximabe) no tratamento das doenças inflamatórias intestinais trouxe nova perspectiva terapêutica na busca da cura e controle dessas doenças. O TNF-alfa é um mediador inflamatório e modula a resposta imunológica celular. Portanto, existe a possibilidade de que o infliximabe possa afetar a resposta imunológica normal e predispor o paciente a infecções oportunistas com maior freqüência do que o habitual. O objetivo deste relato é descrever a ocorrência de herpes-zoster após a segunda aplicação do infliximabe em paciente com doença inflamatória intestinal. A doente com 49 anos de idade e diagnóstico de retocolite ulcerativa distal não responsiva ao tratamento com sulfassalazina, derivados e corticóide recebeu a primeira aplicação de infliximabe na dose de Smg/kg de peso, com melhora importante da sintomatologia - sangramento intestinal, diarréia e artralgia - logo nos primeiros dias. Após dois meses, foi administrada a segunda aplicação da medicação, após a qual a doente evoluiu com prurido e aparecimento de lesões pustulosas em região genital compatível com herpes-zoster. A doente foi medicada com aciclovir oral por sete dias, com regressão total do quadro. Apesar do aparecimento da infecção oportunista, o tratamento adequado e em curto intervalo de tempo não impossibilitou o tratamento continuado com infliximabe, desde que sob vigilância permanente do médico assistente.

Loop ileostomy morbidity: timing of closure matters.

PURPOSE: Diverting stomas are commonly performed during ileoanal and coloanal anastomoses. We studied a series of patients after loop ileostomy closure to determine risk factors and the impact of the interval from primary operation on morbidity. METHODS: Ninety-three consecutive patients undergoing loop ileostomy closure at a single institution after coloanal or ileoanal anastomosis were retrospectively reviewed. Complications were classified as medical or surgical according to its treatment requirements. Results were correlated to clinical and operative features. RESULTS: Of the 93 patients, 43 were male and 50 were female with mean age of 56 years. Overall, complication rate was 17.2 percent. The most common complication was small-bowel obstruction. Complications required operative management in 3.2 percent and medical management alone in 14 percent. There was no mortality. There was no correlation between complication occurrence and age, gender, type of suture (manual or mechanical), and operative time. Complications were significantly associated with primary disease and shorter interval between primary operation and ileostomy closure. Regarding the optimal interval between primary surgery and ileostomy closure, the cutoff value for increased risk of developing postoperative complications was 8.5 weeks, below which the risk of such occurrence was significantly higher with a sensitivity rate of 88 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Diverting loop ileostomy adds little cumulative morbidity to the primary operation and is a safe option for diversion to protect a low colorectal anastomosis. To further reduce morbidity, the interval between primary operation and ileostomy closure should be no shorter than 8.5 weeks.

Aortoenteric fistula to the sigmoid colon-case report.

Aortoenteric fistula is defined as a communication between the aorta and any adjacent segment of the bowel. It may be primary or secondary. The former occurs de novo in patients with intestinal or vascular diseases, whereas secondary aortoenteric fistula is a rare and dreadful complication of aortic reconstruction with vascular prosthesis. We report a case of a 62-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with acute rectal bleeding. The patient had previous aortoiliac surgery with the utilization of an aorto-bifemoral vascular graft. Diagnosis of secondary aortoenteric fistula was made between the aortoiliac graft and sigmoid colon. After exploratory laparotomy, Hartmann's procedure, excision of the graft, oversewing of the aortic stump, and axilobifemoral bypass were successfully performed. This study reports a rare type of secondary aortoenteric fistula to the left colon, and it describes an unusual and successful surgical treatment.

Short- and long-term outcomes of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

UNLABELLED: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was an important advancement in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether early complications of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis are associated with poor late functional results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were operated on from 1986 to 2000, 62 patients with ileostomy and 18 without. The early and late complications were recorded. Specific emphasis has been placed on the incidence of pouchitis with prolonged follow-up. RESULTS: The ileostomy was closed an average of 9.2 months after the first operation. Fourteen patients were excluded from the long-term evaluation; 6 patients were lost to regular follow-up, 4 died, and 4 patients still have the ileostomy. Of the 4 patients that died, 1 died from surgical complications. Early complications after operation (41) occurred in 34 patients (42.5%). Late complications (29) occurred in 25 patients as follows: 16 had pouchitis, 3 associated with stenosis and 1 with sexual dysfunction; 5 had stenosis; and there was 1 case each of incisional hernia, ileoanal fistula, hepatic cancer, and endometriosis. Pouchitis occurred in 6 patients (9.8%) 1 year after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, 9 (14.8%) after 3 years, 13 (21.3%) after 5 years, and 16 (26.2%) after more than 6 years. The mean daily stool frequency was 12 before and 5.8 after operation. One pouch was removed because of fistulas that appeared 2 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is associated with a considerable number of early complications. There was no correlation between pouchitis and severe disease, operation with or without ileostomy, or early postoperative complications. The incidence of pouchitis was directly proportional to duration of time of follow-up.

Gluteal and perianal hidradenitis suppurativa: surgical treatment by wide excision.

PURPOSE: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Extensive gluteal and perianal disease represents a challenge presentation. The aim of this study was to present results of management of extensive hidradenitis suppurativa in gluteal, perineal, and inguinal areas. METHODS: From January 1980 to May 2000, 56 patients underwent treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa in gluteal, perineal, and inguinal areas through wide excision; 52 (93 percent) were male and 36 (64 percent) were white. Mean age was 40 years. We evaluated distribution of disease, associated conditions, use of diverting colostomy, management of operative wounds, time to complete healing, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: Twenty-one (37.6 percent) and 17 (30.6 percent) patients had gluteal and perineal disease, respectively. Squamous-cell carcinoma and Crohn's disease were observed in one patient each. Wide surgical excision was performed in all. Healing by second intention was the choice in 32 (57.1 percent) patients, and 24 (42.9 percent) patients underwent delayed skin-grafting. Diverting colostomy was used in 23 (41 percent) patients. Mean time for complete healing in the nongrafted group was 10 (range, 7-17) weeks and in the skin graft group was 6 (range, 3-9) weeks. New resection was performed in five (8.9 percent) patients. Partial graft loss rate was 37.5 percent and recurrence was observed in only one (1.8 percent) patient. CONCLUSION: Significant morbidity derives from extensive gluteal and perineal hidradenitis suppurativa caused by the disease extension and large wounds that result from surgical treatment. Wide surgical excision is the treatment of choice and leads to cure. Skin-grafting and healing by second intention lead to effective wound healing.

Short- and long-term outcomes of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was an important advancement in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether early complications of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis are associated with poor late functional results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were operated on from 1986 to 2000, 62 patients with ileostomy and 18 without. The early and late complications were recorded. Specific emphasis has been placed on the incidence of pouchitis with prolonged follow-up. RESULTS: The ileostomy was closed an average of 9.2 months after the first operation. Fourteen patients were excluded from the long-term evaluation; 6 patients were lost to regular follow-up, 4 died, and 4 patients still have the ileostomy. Of the 4 patients that died, 1 died from surgical complications. Early complications after operation (41) occurred in 34 patients (42.5 percent). Late complications (29) occurred in 25 patients as follows: 16 had pouchitis, 3 associated with stenosis and 1 with sexual dysfunction; 5 had stenosis; and there was 1 case each of incisional hernia, ileoanal fistula, hepatic cancer, and endometriosis. Pouchitis occurred in 6 patients (9.8 percent) 1 year after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, 9 (14.8 percent) after 3 years, 13 (21.3 percent) after 5 years, and 16 (26.2 percent) after more than 6 years. The mean daily stool frequency was 12 before and 5.8 after operation. One pouch was removed because of fistulas that appeared 2 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is associated with a considerable number of early complications. There was no correlation between pouchitis and severe disease, operation with or without ileostomy, or early postoperative complications. The incidence of pouchitis was directly proportional to duration of time of follow-up

Inflammatory bowel diseases: principles of nutritional therapy.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease- are chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology. Decreased oral intake, malabsorption, accelerated nutrient losses, increased requirements, and drug-nutrient interactions cause nutritional and functional deficiencies that require proper correction by nutritional therapy. The goals of the different forms of nutritional therapy are to correct nutritional disturbances and to modulate inflammatory response, thus influencing disease activity. Total parenteral nutrition has been used to correct and to prevent nutritional disturbances and to promote bowel rest during active disease, mainly in cases of digestive fistulae with high output. Its use should be reserved for patients who cannot tolerate enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is effective in inducing clinical remission in adults and promoting growth in children. Due to its low complication rate and lower costs, enteral nutrition should be preferred over total parenteral nutrition whenever possible. Both present equal effectiveness in primary therapy for remission of active Crohn's disease. Nutritional intervention may improve outcome in certain individuals; however, because of the costs and complications of such therapy, careful selection is warranted, especially in patients presumed to need total parenteral nutrition. Recent research has focused on the use of nutrients as primary treatment agents. Immunonutrition is an important therapeutic alternative in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases, modulating the inflammation and changing the eicosanoid synthesis profile. However, beneficial reported effects have yet to be translated into the clinical practice. The real efficacy of these and other nutrients (glutamine, short-chain fatty acids, antioxidants) still need further evaluation through prospective and randomized trials.

Inflammatory bowel diseases: principles of nutritional therapy

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease- are chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology. Decreased oral intake, malabsorption, accelerated nutrient losses, increased requirements, and drug-nutrient interactions cause nutritional and functional deficiencies that require proper correction by nutritional therapy. The goals of the different forms of nutritional therapy are to correct nutritional disturbances and to modulate inflammatory response, thus influencing disease activity. Total parenteral nutrition has been used to correct and to prevent nutritional disturbances and to promote bowel rest during active disease, mainly in cases of digestive fistulae with high output. Its use should be reserved for patients who cannot tolerate enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is effective in inducing clinical remission in adults and promoting growth in children. Due to its low complication rate and lower costs, enteral nutrition should be preferred over total parenteral nutrition whenever possible. Both present equal effectiveness in primary therapy for remission of active Crohn's disease. Nutritional intervention may improve outcome in certain individuals; however, because of the costs and complications of such therapy, careful selection is warranted, especially in patients presumed to need total parenteral nutrition. Recent research has focused on the use of nutrients as primary treatment agents. Immunonutrition is an important therapeutic alternative in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases, modulating the inflammation and changing the eicosanoid synthesis profile. However, beneficial reported effects have yet to be translated into the clinical practice. The real efficacy of these and other nutrients (glutamine, short-chain fatty acids, antioxidants) still need further evaluation through prospective and randomized trials