New surgical approaches to ulcerative colitis in children and adults

Low trypsinogen-1 expression in pediatric ulcerative colitis patients who undergo surgery

AIM: To investigate whether matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) or trypsinogens could serve as histological markers for an aggressive disease course in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS: We identified 24 patients with pediatric onset (≤ 16 years) UC who had undergone surgery during childhood/adolescence a median of 2.1 years (range 0.1-7.4 years) after the diagnosis (between 1990 and 2008) in Children’s Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. We also identified 27 conservatively treated UC patients and matched them based on their age at the time of diagnosis and follow-up at a median of 6 years (range 3-11 years) to serve as disease controls. Twenty children for whom inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had been excluded as a result of endoscopy served as non-IBD controls. Colon biopsies taken by diagnostic endoscopy before the onset of therapy were stained using immunohistochemistry to study the expression of MMP-9, trypsinogen-1 (Tryp-1), Tryp-2, and a trypsin inhibitor (TATI). The profiles of these proteases and inhibitor at diagnosis were compared between the surgery group, the conservatively treated UC patients and the non-IBD controls.

RESULTS: The proportions of Tryp-1 and Tryp-2 positive samples in the colon epithelium and in the inflammatory cells of the colon stroma were comparable between the studied groups at diagnosis. Interestingly, the immunopositivity of Tryp-1 (median 1; range 0-3) was significantly lower in the epithelium of the colon in the pediatric UC patients undergoing surgery when compared to that of the conservatively treated UC patients (median 2; range 0-3; P = 0.03) and non-IBD controls (median 2; range 0-3; P = 0.04). For Tryp-2, there was no such difference. In the inflammatory cells of the colon stroma, the immunopositivities of Tryp-1 and Tryp-2 were comparable between the studied groups at diagnosis. Also, the proportion of samples positive for TATI, as well as the immunopositivity, was comparable between the studied groups in the colon epithelium. In the stromal inflammatory cells of the colon, TATI was not detected. In UC patients, there were significantly more MMP-9 positive samples and a higher immunopositivity in the stromal inflammatory cells of the colon when compared to the samples from the non-IBD patients (P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively); the immunopositivity correlated with the histological grade of inflammation (95%CI: 0.22-0.62; P = 0.0002), but not with the other markers of active disease. There were no differences in the immunopositivity or in the proportions of MMP-9 positive samples when examined by epithelial staining. The staining profiles in the ileal biopsies were comparable between the studied groups for all of the studied markers.

CONCLUSION: For pediatric UC patients who require surgery, the immunopositivity of Tryp-1 at diagnosis is lower when compared to that of patients with a more benign disease course.

Surgery for ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients: functional results of 10-year follow-up with straight endorectal pull-through

Children and adolescents affected by ulcerative colitis (UC) frequently require colectomy because of refractory or chronic symptoms. The aim of this paper is to present our experience and 10-year follow-up results of 28 patients who underwent endorectal pull-through (ERPT) as surgical treatment for UC, with special regard to surgical complications, stooling patterns (frequency of defecation, stool consistency, urgency period), fecal incontinence, and quality of life. A retrospective chart review of these patients was performed to evaluate age at colectomy, indication for surgical treatment, operative procedures, technical details, and early or late complications. Frequency of defecation was less than twice per day in two patients, between three and five times per day in nine patients, and more than six times per day in 10 patients. Stool consistency was normal in 14 patients, loose in five, and liquid in only two cases. Urgency period was normal (minutes) in 14 patients, short (seconds) in four, and absent in three. Ten patients (47%) have perfect or good fecal continence, whereas 11 (52%) patients present moderate to total incontinence. The self-reported emotional health was good in most of the patients. A large number are progressing well at school and are coping with their operations. Studies of quality of life in UC patients who underwent surgical treatment in childhood or adolescence, comparing as well the results according to the surgical technique adopted, must be encouraged.

Efficacy of the straight endorectal pull-through in the management of familial adenomatous polyposis--a 16-year experience

From 1979 to 1995, 27 patients who had familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) were treated at the authors' institution. Most patients (n = 23) presented as a result of a previous family history of FAP. Eighteen patients presented with symptomatic colonic disease that included bloody stools (n = 14), diarrhea (n = 10), and abdominal pain (n = 6). Treatment consisted of a total colectomy, rectal mucosectomy, and straight endorectal pull-through (ERPT) in 26 of 27 patients. One patient preferred to undergo an ileoanal J pouch reconstruction. A temporary diverting loop ileostomy was performed in 25 patients and closed at an average of 100 days after the ERPT. Follow-up has been achieved in 100% of the patients and ranges from 6 to 182 months with an average of 48 months. Postoperative complications included partial bowel obstruction (two patients, one requiring enterolysis); and mild pouchitis (one patient). Two of the 27 patients required proctectomy and permanent ileostomy procedures, one for rectal cancer that was present microscopically in the initial rectal specimen from the ERPT and the other because of recurrent anastomotic complications. No patient required revision of the straight pull-through to a pouch or takedown of the pull-through as a result of persistent diarrhea or dissatisfaction. All of the patients are continent, and 80% deny any soiling during bouts of gastroenteritis. The mean number of bowel movements reported was 10 per day at the first postoperative clinic visit with a gradual decreased to six per day after 2 years. Initial use of bulking (62%) and antimotility agents (88%) decreased significantly over the course of follow-up to 29% and 67%, respectively at the most recent follow-up (average, 48 months) of each patient. Pelvic sepsis, which occurs in 8% of most series of patients who have pouches, did not occur in any of our patients. Pouchitis, a common complication with pouches (23%), occurred in only one of the patients and was mild and easily treated medically. This series demonstrates that total colectomy with rectal mucosectomy and straight ERPT eliminates the risk of colorectal cancer and achieves continence with a low complication rate and excellent functional results and patient satisfaction.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease in children encompasses at least two forms of intestinal inflammation: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. These two disease processes are differentiated based on clinical presentation, radiologic findings, endoscopic findings, histologic evaluation, and exclusion of alternative causes. The treatment and operative interventions are reviewed.

A personal experience with 100 consecutive total colectomies and straight ileoanal endorectal pull-throughs for benign disease of the colon and rectum in children and adults

In 1974 total colectomy and ileoanal straight endorectal pull-through (ERPT) were first used at our institution for the definitive management of total colonic Hirschsprung's disease in infants and children. Early success with this operation encouraged us to use this procedure in children and adults with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis in 1977. Since 1974 we have performed total colectomy and straight ileoanal ERPT on 100 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis (79), familial polyposis (19), and total colonic Hirschsprung's disease (10). Patients who have undergone a colectomy and ERPT but have not had their temporary ileostomy closed have been excluded from this report. This group of patients represents the only large series of straight ERPTs available for comparison with the various reservoir modifications that have been reported. All operations were performed under the direction of the author. The mean age at surgery was 20.6 +/- 9.8 years, with a range of 1 to 48 years. Forty-six patients were younger than 18 years at the time of operation. All patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis underwent a temporary loop ileostomy with total abdominal colectomy with ERPT; the 10 infants and children with Hirschsprung's disease underwent the total colectomy and ERPT without a back-up ileostomy. There were two deaths in this series, one from fulminate hepatic failure in the late postoperative period and the other from multiple bowel fistulas and sepsis in a teenager with Crohn's disease, in whom the initial diagnosis was ulcerative colitis. Follow-up has ranged from 3 months to 15 years. There were 13 cases of adhesive bowel obstruction, seven of which required an enterolysis. Pelvic sepsis occurred in three patients, two of whom required operative drainage. Two women developed rectovaginal fistulas, which healed with temporary diversion. Minor wound infections occurred in five patients. There were no anastomotic leaks, nor were any cases of pouchitis encountered. In five patients permanent conversion to a Brooke ileostomy was required. Mean stool frequency 3 years after surgery was 7.7 per 24 hours. Daytime continence was achieved in all patients. Occasional nocturnal soiling occurred in 11.1% of patients at 1 year and was absent by 3 years. Neither age nor diagnosis (ulcerative colitis versus familial polyposis) affected stool frequency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The value of intestinal myotomy and myectomy in improving the reservoir capacity of the endorectal pull-through

In laboratory models of massive small bowel resection and colectomy, intestinal myotomy has been shown to decrease stool frequency and malabsorption. Using physiologic and anatomic parameters of gastrointestinal function, we assessed the ability of three types of ileal myotomies to improve outcome after total abdominal colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and endorectal pull-through (ERPT) without an enteric reservoir. Twenty puppies underwent ERPT. These dogs were randomly assigned to three experimental groups or a control group consisting of animals without a myotomy. The myotomies were performed by excising the serosa and muscularis propria of the ileal wall in three different patterns. There was no difference between any of the groups with respect to general health, postoperative weight gain, stool frequency, intestinal transit time, water absorption, electrolyte absorption, barium enemas, neorectal capacity and dimensions, and histology.

Failed ileoanal anastomosis: correlations between clinical function and anal canal neurophysiologic and histologic examinations

Ten patients with an ileoanal anastomosis had conversion to permanent ileostomy 13 (range, 6-29) months after the primary procedure. Causes for reoperation were incontinence in seven patients, unacceptable stool frequency without incontinence in two patients, and atypia in the mucosal remnant with perfect continence in one patient. Stool frequency, continence function, anal canal resting pressure, external anal sphincter (EAS) EMG/pressure relationship (in terms of slope, m), EAS fiber density (FD), and pressure in the distal ileum were registered, and the mucosa and the anal sphincter muscles were examined histologically. There were significant correlations between continence function and EAS changes in terms of both neurophysiologic tests (m and FD) and the histologic picture. The abnormalities in six incontinent patients were consistent with denervation of the EAS. The main reason for fecal leakage in one patient was the high amplitude of pressure waves in the distal ileum. Preservation of mucosal epithelium proximal to the dentate line per se did not seem essential to maintain continence.

Anal sphincter function after colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and ileoanal anastomosis

Anal sphincter investigations were performed in 41 patients with straight ileoanal anastomosis and in 10 controls. In 20 patients (group I) the mucosal stripping had been performed from the abdominal side, leaving 1-2 cm of distal anal mucosa. In 21 patients (group II) the anal mucosa had been stripped from the perineal side as far as the dentate line. Continence was perfect in all patients in group I and poor in 6 of 17 patients in group II, when examined 12 months after the operation. Anal canal resting pressure was normal in group I. In group II the resting pressure was significantly decreased and correlated to continence function. The maximum anal canal squeeze pressure was the same in the two groups. The slope of the regression line between pressure rise and integrated electromyography proved to be a useful criterion of the external anal sphincter function and was significantly correlated to degree of incontinence. This variable was significantly smaller in group II patients than in group I and controls. Thus, function of the anal sphincters was normal after mucosal proctectomy performed from above with preservation of a mucosal brim. Dysfunction of the internal and external anal sphincter was found after perineal mucosal dissection and was correlated to continence function.

Ulcerative colitis. Colorectal cancer risk in an unselected population

One hundred twenty-seven patients were studied, representing the unselected population of patients with ulcerative colitis from a defined catchment area of about 70,000 inhabitants during 1961-1983. Seventy-seven patients had total colitis, and 50 patients had left-sided colitis. No prophylactic colectomy was performed. Despite this and a comprehensive follow-up of patients with long-standing, extensive colitis, primary colorectal carcinomas were diagnosed in only three patients, all of whom had total colitis. This was significantly (p less than 0.001) more than the expected number of patients with colorectal cancer in this subgroup, namely, 0.13. There were no deaths in colorectal carcinoma. Factors determining completeness of inclusion are discussed, and it is concluded that, in an unselected series of patients with ulcerative colitis, close cancer surveillance is indicated, although prophylactic surgery does not seem to be generally warranted.

Mucosal proctectomy with straight ileoanal anastomosis. A comparison of two methods

Straight ileoanal anastomosis was performed in 59 patients. In 32 patients (group I) mucosal dissection was performed from above with preservation of a distal mucosal brim. In 27 patients (group II) the mucosectomy was performed to the dentate line--in 26 patients from the perineal side and in 1 patient from the abdominal side. Diverting loop ileostomy was used in group II but not in group I. The results in group II were in every respect inferior to those in group I, with significantly more intestinal obstruction and more conversions to permanent ileostomy because of poor functional results. The patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in group II had higher stool frequency (10 (6-12) versus 7.3 (5-8) per 24 h; p = 0.01) and significantly less 'neorectal' capacity and distensibility than the UC patients in group I at 12 months after the operation. Anal continence was perfect in group I. In group II, 5 of 15 of the patients had significant incontinence problems 12 months postoperatively. The differences in results are ascribed to the differences in surgical technique between the two groups, and especially to the harmful effect of anal dilatation.

DNA content in ulcerative colitis. Flow cytometric analysis in a patient series from a defined area

Sixty patients with ulcerative colitis of more than nine years' duration and 13 patients with a shorter disease duration were examined over a three-year period with flow cytometric DNA analysis and conventional histologic investigation of biopsy specimens obtained by colonoscopy. The patient series included all patients with ulcerative colitis from a colonic cancer surveillance program in a defined area. There were five patients-one who developed colonic cancer, one with high-grade dysplasia, and three with low-grade dysplasia. None of these showed aneuploidy (abnormal DNA stem lines). There were six patients with aneuploidy in one to six locations in the colorectum. On consecutive examinations, there was a high reproducibility of the abnormal DNA pattern for ploidy levels and location in the bowel. In these patients, there was no obvious relationship with definite dysplasia. It is concluded that flow cytometric DNA analysis in ulcerative colitis may become a valuable complement to evaluation of dysplasia in cancer surveillance, but assessment of the cancer risk in individual patients with aneuploidy needs further investigation.

Operative treatment of ulcerative colitis: conventional proctectomy with Brooke ileostomy versus mucosal proctectomy with ileoanal anastomosis

Fifty-four patients with ulcerative colitis were operated on during a 3-year period; 35 had conventional proctectomy and Brooke ileostomy, and 19 had mucosal proctectomy, performed from the abdominal side, leaving 1-2 cm of the distal anal mucosa, and a straight ileoanal anastomosis (IAA) without diverting ileostomy. There were no operative deaths. In the ileostomy group 19 (54%) of the patients had a total of 38 reoperations: 10 laparotomies and 28 revisions of a perineal sinus. Three (16%) of the IAA patients had a total of five reoperations: four laparotomies and one closure of a loop ileostomy. All IAA patients had perfect continence day and night and a median stool frequency of 7.5/24 h 1 year after the operation. Ileostomy patients had significantly longer time out of work, and more urinary, sexual, and social dysfunctions than the IAA patients. After 2-3 years' follow-up study, all differences in results are greatly in favour of the ileoanal procedure.

Ulcerative colitis. Cancer surveillance in an unselected population

An unselected series of patients with chronic ulcerative colitis from a defined catchment area underwent endoscopic and histologic cancer surveillance from 1977 to 1985. At the end point of the study, which included a total of 93 patients, there were 38 patients with total colitis of more than 10 years' duration. There was one case of colonic carcinoma, two cases of high-grade dysplasia, and no death due to colorectal cancer. We conclude that in an unselected group of patients with ulcerative colitis, the risk for colorectal dysplasia and cancer is low and that a surveillance program is reliable and can be performed at a community hospital.

Experience with the straight endorectal pullthrough for the management of ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis in children and adults

The first significant experience with the straight endorectal pullthrough for the management of ulcerative colitis was presented before the American Surgical Association in 1977 by Lester Martin. Since then the operation with or without modification has been used extensively. High stool frequencies in some series led to disenchantment with the straight anastomosis and to the development of various reservoir procedures to increase rectal capacity and thereby reduce frequency. As a result, no large series of straight pullthroughs is available for comparison with the reservoir modifications. Between September 1977 and September 1986, 72 children and adults, 61 with ulcerative colitis and 11 with familial polyposis, underwent endorectal pullthrough (ERPT) and straight ileoanal anastomosis under the overall direction of a single surgeon (AGC). Sixty patients have undergone ileostomy closure and form the basis of this study. Mean age at operation was 22.7 years (range 4-48 yr), and duration of active disease averaged 6 years. One-half of the patients underwent total abdominal colectomy with ERPT as a primary procedure. There were 11 cases of adhesive bowel obstruction following ERPT, and in six patients in the series permanent revision to a Brooke ileostomy was required. One patient died of hepatic failure in the late postoperative period. Follow-up has ranged from 3 months to 9 years. Mean stool frequency for the group as a whole at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months was 11.8, 11.2, 9.6, 9.0, and 8.3 per 24 hours, respectively. Daytime continence was achieved in all patients. Occasional nocturnal soiling occurred in 11.1% of patients at 1 year. Stool frequency and continence were also analyzed by age group above and below 18 years and above and below 30 years. There were no statistically significant differences between these groups. The authors conclude from this study that ERPT with straight ileoanal anastomosis remains an appropriate alternative for children and adults with ulcerative colitis or familial polyposis and compares favorably with the more complicated ERPT involving a reservoir.

Mucocele after endorectal pull-through for imperforate anus

This report documents a patient with imperforate anus in whom an endorectal pull-through with incomplete excision of the macroscopic mucosa led to the formation of a 1,500 mL mucosal lined pelvic mucocele, obstructing both the rectum and ureter. All macroscopic mucosa should be removed during endorectal pull-through.

Familial polyposis coli. Results of mucosal proctectomy with ileoanal anastomosis

The outcome of mucosal proctectomy with ileoanal anastomosis in patients with polyposis coli has not been well studied. A series of 25 patients with polyposis treated at the Mount Sinai Hospital over a period of ten years is reported. The mean age of the patients was 23 years. Early postoperative complications were present in seven patients and consisted of thrombophlebitis (three), pelvic sepsis (three), and retraction of the anastomosis (one). Intestinal obstruction requiring laparotomy occurred in another five patients. Twenty-three patients were followed for a mean of 47 months after closure of the ileostomy. Ninety-one percent are satisfied with the operative results. The mean number of bowel movements per 24 hours is 6.0. All patients are continent, but eight have occasional episodes of rectal seepage at night. Nearly 50 percent require some antidiarrheal medication. New adenomatous polyps have developed just above the dentate line in four patients. Patients with polyposis coli seem to have fewer serious complications requiring excision of the ileoanal anastomosis than patients with ulcerative colitis. They also should have lifelong surveillance of the entire gastrointestinal tract even after total colectomy with ileoanal anastomosis.

Comparison of the function of triplicated and duplicated pelvic ileal reservoirs after mucosal proctectomy and ileo-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis and adenomatous polyposis

Among 39 consecutive patients who underwent colectomy, mucosal proctectomy and ileo-anal anastomosis, a triplicated pelvic ileal pouch was constructed in 17, and a duplicated pouch in 22 patients. There was no mortality, but complications such as anastomotic dehiscence and pelvic sepsis led to removal of the pouch in seven patients (18 per cent). The functioning of the pouch and anal sphincter was assessed in 31 patients 6 months, and in 22 patients 12 months after closure of the diverting ileostomy. By 6 months, all patients were either completely continent or experienced only minor leakage and defaecation could be deferred for more than 15 min by 81 per cent of patients and flatus distinguished from faeces by 90 per cent of patients. No significant differences between triplicated and duplicated pouches were discernible at 6 months. At 12 months defaecation was significantly less frequent (P less than 0.05) in patients with triplicated pouches (median, 5 times in 24 h) than in patients with duplicated pouches (7 times in 24 h). All patients with triplicated pouches and all except one with duplicated pouches were able to defaecate spontaneously, without needing to intubate the reservoir. Thus, provided the early postoperative problems can be overcome, most patients achieve good anal function after mucosal proctectomy combined with a pelvic ileal reservoir. No evidence was found in this study that the functional results of duplicated pouches were superior to those of triplicated pouches; in fact, the triplicated pouches proved to be slightly superior.