Comparing Outcomes Between Side-to-Side Anastomosis and Other Anastomotic Configurations After Intestinal Resection for Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis

ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Surgical Treatment

This article is the second in a series of two publications on the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] evidence-based consensus on the management of Crohn's disease. The first article covers medical management; the present article addresses surgical management, including preoperative aspects and drug management before surgery. It also provides technical advice for a variety of common clinical situations. Both articles together represent the evidence-based recommendations of the ECCO for Crohn's disease and an update of prior ECCO Guidelines.

Rates of Endoscopic Recurrence In Postoperative Crohn's Disease Based on Anastomotic Techniques: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) after ileocolic resection may develop an endoscopic postoperative recurrence (ePOR) that reaches 40% to 70% of incidence within 6 months. Recently, there has been growing interest in the potential effect of anastomotic configurations on ePOR. Kono-S anastomosis has been proposed for reducing the risk of clinical and ePOR. Most studies have assessed the association of ileocolonic anastomosis and ePOR individually, while there is currently limited data simultaneously comparing several types of anastomosis. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of different ileocolonic anastomosis on ePOR in CD.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and Embase from inception to January 2023 for eligible studies reporting the types of anastomoses and, based on these, the rate of endoscopic recurrence at ≥6 months. Studies were grouped by conventional anastomosis, including side-to-side, end-to-end, and end-to-side vs Kono-S, and comparisons were made between these groups. Pooled incidence rates of ePOR were computed using random-effect modelling.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies, with 2087 patients who underwent ileocolic resection for CD were included. Among these patients, 369 (17,7%) Kono-S anastomoses were performed, while 1690 (81,0%) were conventional ileocolic anastomosis. Endoscopic postoperative recurrence at ≥6 months showed a pooled incidence of 37.2% (95% CI, 27.7-47.2) with significant heterogeneity among the studies (P < .0001). In detail, patients receiving a Kono-S anastomosis had a pooled incidence of ePOR of 24.7% (95% CI, 6.8%-49.4%), while patients receiving a conventional anastomosis had an ePOR of 42.6% (95% CI, 32.2%-53.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Kono-S ileocolic anastomosis was more likely to decrease the risk of ePOR at ≥6 months compared with conventional anastomosis. Our findings highlight the need to implement the use of Kono-S anastomosis, particularly for difficult to treat patients. However, results from larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these data.

A Comparative Study of Hand-Sewn and Stapled Anastomosis in Gastrointestinal Surgeries

Background Bowel anastomosis is a key part of gastrointestinal surgery where two sections of the intestines are connected. It is a critical step as it restores the digestive tract's continuity after removing damaged or diseased bowel. Stapler devices are a new method that helps connect bowel loops faster and with less tissue damage. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the safety and effectiveness of stapled anastomosis versus hand-sewn anastomosis in surgeries involving the bowel. Methods In this prospective non-randomized study, the study population included 60 patients with various gastrointestinal surgeries admitted to our institution from August 2022 to June 2024 within a single unit. The inclusion criteria included all patients aged over 18 years who underwent surgeries such as gastrojejunostomy, hemicolectomy, and small bowel resection with anastomosis. The exclusion criteria were age under 18, pregnancy, and immunocompromised states. Patients were divided into two groups based on how their digestive tract was reconstructed: 28 had stapled anastomoses and 32 had hand-sewn anastomoses, either as elective or emergency surgery. We examined multiple outcomes such as surgery duration in hours, time until bowel function returned post surgery, length of hospital stay in days, anastomotic leak rate, albumin levels to leak rate, post-surgery pain, and surgical site infection (SSI) rate for the two groups. Southampton wound grading system and the visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess the SSI and pain score, respectively. Results When comparing the operation time for the suture and staple groups among the elective cases, the p-value was significant (0.02), with 15 patients having prolonged surgery in the suture group compared to only five in the staple group. Regarding the time until the return of bowel sounds post surgery, the p-value was significant (0.02) for elective cases in the two groups, with nine patients having their bowel sounds returning after the third postoperative day (POD) in the suture group. When comparing the duration of stay in the hospital for elective cases for the staple and suture groups, the p-value was significant (0.04), with eight patients staying after the seventh POD in the suture group. When comparing the leak rates for the two groups for elective cases, the p-value was significant (0.04), with four leaks in the suture group and no leaks in the staple group. On comparing the association between the albumin level and anastomotic leak, the p-value was significant at 0.001 and 0.0006 for the suture and staple groups, respectively, with more leaks associated with an albumin level of <3 mg/dl. When comparing pain scores of the suture and staple groups separately in elective and emergency settings, the p-values were both 0.4, which is not significant. Among the elective cases comparing SSIs for the suture and staple groups, the p-value was significant (0.04), with six patients having SSIs in the suture group compared to one patient in the staple group. Among the emergency cases, when comparing SSIs for the suture and staple groups, the p-value was not significant (0.1). Conclusion In elective surgeries, stapled anastomosis reduces surgery time, accelerates bowel function recovery, enables earlier discharge, and lowers anastomotic leak rates compared to sutures. The staples group showed no difference from sutures in the leak rate to albumin levels and pain while offering superior SSI prevention.

Effect of Kono-S anastomosis on reducing postoperative recurrence rates in Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Kono-S anastomosis has gained increasing interest although evaluation of its impact on reducing Crohn's recurrence shows conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes for patients with Crohn's disease requiring surgery with Kono-S compared to conventional anastomosis.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis included patients with Crohn's disease treated with bowel resection and Kono-S anastomosis reconstruction versus a comparator arm of conventional anastomosis technique. Recurrence outcomes examined were endoscopic recurrence rates, mean postoperative Rutgeerts score, surgical recurrence, clinical recurrence, and postoperative biologics use. Short-term postoperative outcomes include anastomotic leaks, surgical site infection, postoperative ileus, and mean operative time.

RESULTS

A total of 873 studies were identified with 15 remaining after abstract review encompassing 1501 patients, 765 with Kono-S and 736 with conventional anastomosis. Recurrence was significantly lower in the Kono-S arm, with endoscopic recurrence rates of 41% vs 48% (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.73-1.00, p = 0.05) and surgical recurrence rates of 2.7% vs 21.0% (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.06-0.30, p < 0.001). There was a significantly lower anastomotic leak rate in the Kono-S arm when compared to conventional anastomosis, 1.7% vs 4.9% (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19-0.74, p = 0.005). Mean operative time was similar between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Kono-S is a safe and feasible anastomotic technique with lower rates of endoscopic and surgical postoperative recurrence. While we await further trials to substantiate this benefit, Kono-S anastomosis should be considered as an important tool in the armamentarium of a surgeon in anastomotic construction to reduce recurrence.

The Reduction of Anastomosis-Related Morbidity Using the Kono-S Anastomosis in Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of Kono-S anastomosis on postoperative morbidity after bowel resection for Crohn's disease. (2) Methods: This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The primary endpoint was the overall complications rate. Secondary outcomes included specific complications analyses, disease recurrence and efficiency endpoints. A systematic literature screening was performed in major electronic scholar databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science), from inception to 17 January 2024. Both Random (RE) and Fixed Effects (FE) models were estimated; the reported analysis was based on the Cochran Q test results. (3) Results: Overall, eight studies and 913 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled analyses confirmed that Kono-S was not superior in terms of overall morbidity (OR: 0.69 [0.42, 1.15], p = 0.16). Kono-S displayed a reduced risk for anastomotic leakage (OR: 0.34 [0.16, 0.71], p = 0.004) and reoperation (OR: 0.12 [0.05, 0.27], p < 0.001), and a shortened length of hospital stay (WMD: -0.54 [-0.73, -0.34], p < 0.001). On the contrary, Kono-S results in higher rates of postoperative SSIs (OR: 1.85 [1.02, 3.35], p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: This study confirms a comparable morbidity, but a lower risk of anastomotic leak and reoperation of Kono-S over conventional anastomoses. Further high quality studies are required to validate these findings.

Management of Post-Operative Crohn's Disease: Knowns and Unknowns

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by relapsing-remission phases. CD often requires surgical intervention during its course, mainly ileo-cecal/ileo-colonic resection. However, surgery in CD is not curative and post-operative recurrence (POR) can happen. The management of CD after surgery presents challenges. Ensuring timely, effective, and safe therapy to prevent POR is essential but difficult, considering that approximately 20-30% of subjects may not experience endoscopic POR and that 40-50% will only exhibit intermediate lesions, which carry a low risk of mid- and long-term clinical and surgical POR. Currently, there are two accepted intervention strategies: early post-operative prophylactic therapy (systematically or based on the patient's risk of recurrence) or starting therapy after confirming endoscopic POR 6-12 months after surgery (endoscopy-driven prophylactic therapy). The risk of overtreatment lies in exposing patients to undesired adverse events, along with the costs associated with medications. Conversely, undertreatment may lead to missed opportunities to prevent bowel damage and the necessity for additional surgery. This article aims to perform a comprehensive review regarding the optimal strategy to reduce the risk of POR in CD patients and the current therapeutic options.

First Mexican Consensus on Crohn's disease

INTRODUCTION

Crohn's disease (CD) is a subtype of chronic and incurable inflammatory bowel disease. It can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract and its etiology is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this consensus was to establish the most relevant aspects related to definitions, diagnosis, follow-up, medical treatment, and surgical treatment of Crohn's disease in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mexican specialists in the areas of gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease were summoned. The consensus was divided into five modules, with 69 statements. Applying the Delphi panel method, the pre-meeting questions were sent to the participants, to be edited and weighted. At the face-to-face meeting, all the selected articles were shown, underlining their level of clinical evidence; all the statements were discussed, and a final vote was carried out, determining the percentage of agreement for each statement.

RESULTS

The first Mexican consensus on Crohn's disease was produced, in which recommendations for definitions, classifications, diagnostic aspects, follow-up, medical treatment, and surgical treatment were established.

CONCLUSIONS

Updated recommendations are provided that focus on definitions, classifications, diagnostic criteria, follow-up, and guidelines for conventional medical treatment, biologic therapy, and small molecule treatment, as well as surgical management.

Recurrent Crohn's disease

Although surgical management of the ileocolic segment in pediatric Crohn's disease is not curative, the main goal of therapy is to allow for growth, adequate nutrition, and age-appropriate development. Recurrent disease at the site of anastomosis presents as a major morbidity. Several factors have been implicated in the development of surgical recurrence though data in the literature is scarce. This review explores the epidemiology of recurrent ileocolic disease following primary surgery, indications for surgical intervention, and techniques reported in the literature. Pediatric data is scarce, and therefore, much of it is extrapolated from adult literature.

Stemming the tide with ileocecal Crohn's disease: when is pharmacotherapy enough?

INTRODUCTION

Crohn's disease (CD) mostly affects the terminal ileum and ileocecal region and up to 80% of patients end up requiring surgery. Previously reserved for complicated or refractory forms, surgery is now considered as an alternative to medical treatment in localized ileocecal disease.

AREAS COVERED

This review examines factors associated with response to medical treatment and those associated with the need for surgery in ileocecal CD to identify the patients' profile for whom pharmacotherapy might be enough. Factors associated with the recurrence and the postoperative complications are also reviewed to help the clinician identify patients for whom medical therapy might be preferred.

EXPERT’S OPINION

LIR!C study long-term follow-up data show that 38% of infliximab-treated patients were still treated with infliximab at the end of their follow-up, while 14% had switched to another biologic or had received immunomodulator or corticosteroid and 48% had CD-related surgery. Only the combination with an immunomodulator was associated with a greater likelihood of continuing infliximab. Patients with ileocecal CD for whom pharmacotherapy might be sufficient are probably those with no risk factors for CD-related surgery.In addition, patients with high risk of recurrence or of post-operative complications may benefit more from medical treatment than from surgery.

Postoperative Complications Are Associated With an Early and Increased Rate of Disease Recurrence After Surgery for Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Several potential risk factors for Crohn's disease recurrence after surgery have been identified, including age at diagnosis, disease phenotype, and smoking. Despite the clinical relevance, few studies investigated the role of postoperative complications as a possible risk factor for disease recurrence.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between postoperative complications and recurrence in Crohn's disease patients after primary ileocolic resection.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective case-control study.

SETTING

This study was conducted at 2 tertiary academic centers.

PATIENTS

We included 262 patients undergoing primary ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease between January 2008 and December 2018 and allocated the patients into recurrent (145) and nonrecurrent (117) groups according to endoscopic findings.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative complications were assessed as possible risk factors for endoscopic recurrence after surgery by univariable and multivariable analyses. The effect of postoperative complications on endoscopic and clinical recurrence was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

On binary logistic regression analysis, smoking (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.02-3.32; p = 0.04), penetrating phenotype (OR = 3.14; 95% CI, 1.58-6.22; p < 0.01), perianal disease (OR = 4.03; 95% CI, 1.75-9.25; p = 0.001), and postoperative complications (OR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.19-4.17; p = 0.01) were found to be independent risk factors for endoscopic recurrence. Postoperative complications (HR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.02-2.05; p = 0.03) and penetrating disease (HR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.24-2.40; p = 0.001) significantly reduced the time to endoscopic recurrence; postoperative complications (HR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.02-2.88; p = 0.04) and penetrating disease (HR = 207.10; 95% CI, 88.41-542.370; p < 0.0001) significantly shortened the time to clinical recurrence.

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by its retrospective design.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative complications are independent risk factors for endoscopic recurrence after primary surgery for Crohn's disease, affecting the rate and timing of endoscopic and clinical disease recurrence. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/C48 .

LAS COMPLICACIONES POSOPERATORIAS ESTN ASOCIADAS CON UNA TASA TEMPRANA Y AUMENTADA DE RECURRENCIA DE LA ENFERMEDAD DESPUS DE LA CIRUGA PARA LA ENFERMEDAD DE CROHN

ANTECEDENTES: Se han identificado varios factores de riesgo potenciales para la recurrencia de la enfermedad de Crohn después de la cirugía, incluida la edad en el momento del diagnóstico, el fenotipo de la enfermedad y el tabaquismo. A pesar de la relevancia clínica, pocos estudios investigaron el papel de las complicaciones postoperatorias como posible factor de riesgo para la recurrencia de la enfermedad.OBJETIVO: Investigar la asociación entre las complicaciones postoperatorias y la recurrencia en pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn después de la resección ileocólica primaria.DISEÑO: Este fue un estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles.AJUSTE: Este estudio se realizó en dos centros académicos terciarios.PACIENTES: Incluimos 262 pacientes sometidos a resección ileocólica primaria por enfermedad de Crohn entre Enero de 2008 y Diciembre de 2018 y los asignamos en grupos recurrentes (145) y no recurrentes (117) según los hallazgos endoscópicos.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO: Las complicaciones posoperatorias se evaluaron como posibles factores de riesgo de recurrencia endoscópica después de la cirugía mediante análisis univariable y multivariable. El efecto de las complicaciones posoperatorias sobre la recurrencia endoscópica y clínica se evaluó mediante análisis de regresión de Kaplan-Meier y Cox.RESULTADOS: En el análisis, tabaquismo (OR = 1,84; IC 95%: 1,02-3,32; p = 0,04), fenotipo penetrante (OR = 3,14; IC 95%: 1,58-6,22; p < 0,01), enfermedad perianal (OR = 4,03; IC 95%: 1,75-9,25; p = 0,001) y las complicaciones postoperatorias (OR = 2,23; IC 95%: 1,19-4,17; p = 0,01) fueron factores de riesgo independientes para la recurrencia endoscópica. Las complicaciones posoperatorias (HR = 1,45; IC 95%: 1,02-2,05; p = 0,03) y la enfermedad penetrante (HR = 1,73; IC 95%: 1,24-2,40; p = 0,001) redujeron significativamente el tiempo hasta la recurrencia endoscópica; las complicaciones posoperatorias (HR= 1,6; IC 95%: 1,02-2,88; p = 0,04) y la enfermedad penetrante (HR = 207,10; IC 95%: 88,41-542,37; p < 0,0001) acortaron significativamente el tiempo hasta la recurrencia clínica.LIMITACIONES: Este estudio estuvo limitado por su diseño retrospectivo.CONCLUSIONES: Las complicaciones postoperatorias son factores de riesgo independientes para la recurrencia endoscópica después de la cirugía primaria para la enfermedad de Crohn, lo que afecta la tasa y el momento de la recurrencia endoscópica y clínica de la enfermedad. Consulte el Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/C48 . (Traducción-Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil ).

Anastomotic Considerations in Crohn's Disease

A number of factors should be considered when performing an intestinal anastomosis in the setting of surgery for Crohn's disease. Preoperative risk factors, such as malnutrition, abdominal sepsis, and immunosuppressive medications, may increase the risk of postoperative anastomotic complications and alter surgical decision-making. The anatomical configuration and technique of constructing the anastomosis may have an impact on postoperative function and risk of recurrence, particularly in the setting of ileocolic resection, where the Kono-S anastomosis has gained popularity in recent years. There may be circumstances in which it may be more appropriate to perform an ostomy either without an anastomosis or to temporarily divert an anastomosis when the risk of anastomotic complications is felt to be high. In the setting of total abdominal colectomy or proctocolectomy for Crohn's colitis, restorative procedures may appropriate in lieu of a permanent stoma in certain scenarios.

Therapeutic strategies in Crohn’s disease in an emergency surgical setting

Crohn’s disease (CD) remains a chronic, incurable disorder that presents unique challenges to the surgeon. Multiple factors must be considered to allow development of an appropriate treatment plan. Medical therapy often precedes or complements the surgical management. The indications for operative management of CD include acute and chronic disease complications and failed medical therapy. Elective surgery comes into play when patients are refractory to medical treatment if they have an obstructive phenotype. Toxic colitis, acute obstruction, perforation, acute abscess, or massive hemorrhage represent indications for emergency surgery. These patients are generally in critical conditions and present with intra-abdominal sepsis and a preoperative status of immunosuppression and malnutrition that exposes them to a higher risk of complications and mortality. A multidisciplinary team including surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, nutritional support services, and enterostomal therapists are required for optimal patient care and decision making. Management of each emergency should be individualized based on patient age, disease type and duration, and patient goals of care. Moreover, the recurrent nature of disease mandates that we continue searching for innovative medical therapies and operative techniques that reduce the need to repeat surgical operations. In this review, we aimed to discuss the acute complications of CD and their treatment.

Medical, Endoscopic and Surgical Management of Stricturing Crohn's Disease: Current Clinical Practice

The development of fibrostenotic intestinal disease occurs in approximately one-third of patients with Crohn's disease and is associated with increased morbidity. Despite introducing new biologic agents, stricturing Crohn's disease remains a significant clinical challenge. Medical treatment is considered the first-line treatment for inflammatory strictures, and anti-TNF agents appear to provide the most considerable benefit among the available medical treatments. However, medical therapy is ineffective on strictures with a mainly fibrotic component, and a high proportion of patients under anti-TNF will require surgery. In fibrotic strictures or cases refractory to medical treatment, an endoscopic or surgical approach should be considered depending on the location, length, and severity of the stricture. Both endoscopic balloon dilatation and endoscopic stricturoplasty are minimally invasive and safe, associated with a small risk of complications. On the other hand, the surgical approach is indicated in patients not suitable for endoscopic therapy. This review aimed to present and analyze the currently available medical, endoscopic, and surgical management of stricturing Crohn's disease.

A comparison of extracorporeal side to side or end to side anastomosis following a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate whether an extracorporeal side‐to‐side (SS) or end‐to‐side (ES) stapled anastomosis impacts short‐term and long‐term outcomes after an oncological laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from two Victorian tertiary referral hospitals was performed. Patients who underwent oncological resection for colorectal cancer between February 2010 and September 2020 were selected from the colorectal neoplasia database. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the type of stapled anastomosis: Group 1 (functional end‐to‐end/side‐to‐side (SS)); and Group 2 (end‐to‐side (ES)). Primary outcomes were anastomotic leak, postoperative ileus, mortality and morbidity, length of stay post‐surgery, readmission to hospital, and 30‐day mortality.

Results

This large case series of 1040 patients (SS = 625, ES = 415) demonstrated that the type of stapling technique impacted operative duration and postoperative ileus rates. Patients in the SS group had a faster operation of 108 min rather than 130 min in the ES group (p < 0.001). The SS group were more likely to experience a post‐operative ileus (p < 0.001) with no impact on length of stay (SS, 7 days versus ES, 7 days; p = 0.14). There were no differences between the two groups with respect to lymph node yield, lymph node ratio, anastomotic leaks, return to theatre, 30‐day mortality and 5‐year overall survival.

Discussion

The type of extracorporeal stapled anastomosis following an oncological laparoscopic right hemicolectomy has minimal impact on morbidity and survival outcomes; however, a side‐to‐side stapled anastomosis is more likely to be a faster operation with a higher postoperative ileus rate.

Ileocolic Resection for Crohn Disease: The Influence of Different Surgical Techniques on Perioperative Outcomes, Recurrence Rates, and Endoscopic Surveillance

Ileocolic resection (ICR) is the most common surgical procedure in Crohn disease (CD). There are many surgical techniques for performing ICRs and subsequent anastomoses. Recurrence of CD after ICR is common, often clinically silent, and thus requires monitoring including periodic use of endoscopy to detect early active disease. There is emerging evidence that surgical approaches may influence CD recurrence. This review explores the various surgical considerations, the data behind each decision, and how these techniques influence subsequent endoscopic surveillance.

Late is too late? Surgical timing and postoperative complications after primary ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Despite the recent advances in medical therapy, the majority of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) still require surgery during the course of their life. While a correlation between early primary surgery and lower recurrence rates has been shown, the impact of surgical timing on postoperative complications is unclear. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of surgical timing on 30-day postoperative morbidity.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of 307 consecutive patients submitted to elective primary ileocolic resection for CD at our institution between July 1994 and July 2018. The following variables were considered: age, gender, year of treatment, smoking habits, preoperative steroid therapy, presence of fistula or abscess, type of anastomosis, and time interval between diagnosis of CD and surgery. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine the association between risk factors and complications.

RESULTS

Major complications occurred in 29 patients, while anastomotic leak was observed in 16 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that surgical timing in years (OR 1.10 p = 0.002 for a unit change), along with preoperative use of steroids (OR 5.45 p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for major complications. Moreover, preoperative treatment with steroids (6.59 p = 0.003) and surgical timing (OR 1.10 p = 0.023 for a unit change) were independently associated with anastomotic leak, while handsewn anastomosis (OR 2.84 p = 0.100) showed a trend.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the longer is the time interval between diagnosis of CD and surgery, the greater is the risk of major surgical complications and of anastomotic leak.

Surgical Strategies to Reduce Postoperative Recurrence of Crohn's Disease After Ileocolic Resection

Postoperative recurrence after ileocaecal resection for fibrostenotic terminal ileal Crohn's disease is a significant issue for patients as it can result in symptom recurrence and requirement for further surgery. There are very few modifiable factors, aside from smoking cessation, that can reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence. Until relatively recently, the surgical technique used for resection and anastomosis had little or no impact on postoperative recurrence rates. Novel surgical techniques such as the Kono-S anastomosis and extended mesenteric excision have shown promise as ways to reduce postoperative recurrence rates. This manuscript will review and discuss the evidence regarding a range of surgical techniques and their potential role in reducing disease recurrence. Some of the techniques have been shown to be associated with significant benefits for patients and have already been integrated into the routine clinical practice of some surgeons, while other techniques remain under investigation. Current techniques such as resection of the mesentery close to the intestine and stapled side to side anastomosis are being challenged. It is looking more likely that surgeons will have a major role to play when it comes to reducing recurrence rates for patients undergoing ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease.

Short-term and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic vs open ileocolic resection in patients with Crohn's disease: Propensity-score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic ileocolic resection (LICR) is the preferred surgical approach for primary ileocolic Crohn’s disease (CD) because it has greater recovery benefits than open ICR (OICR).

AIM

To compare short- and long-term outcomes in patients who underwent LICR and OICR.

METHODS

Patients who underwent ICR for primary CD from 2006 to 2017 at a single tertiary center specializing in CD were included. Patients who underwent LICR and OICR were subjected to propensity-score matching analysis. Patients were propensity-score matched 1:1 by factors potentially associated with 30-d perioperative morbidity. These included demographic characteristics and disease- and treatment-related variables. Factors were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Long-term surgical recurrence-free survival (SRFS) in the two groups was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test.

RESULTS

During the study period, 348 patients underwent ICR, 211 by the open approach and 137 laparoscopically. Propensity-score matching yielded 102 pairs of patients. The rate of postoperative complication was significantly lower (14% versus 32%, P = 0.003), postoperative hospital stay significantly shorter (8 d versus 13 d, P = 0.003), and postoperative pain on day 7 significantly lower (1.4 versus 2.3, P < 0.001) in propensity-score matched patients who underwent LICR than in those who underwent OICR. Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative complications were significantly associated with preoperative treatment with biologics [odds ratio (OR): 3.14, P = 0.01] and an open approach to surgery (OR: 2.86, P = 0.005). The 5- and 10-year SRFS rates in the matched pairs were 92.9% and 83.3%, respectively, with SRFS rates not differing significantly between the OICR and LICR groups. The performance of additional procedures was an independent risk factor for surgical recurrence [hazard ratio (HR): 3.28, P = 0.02].

CONCLUSION

LICR yielded better short-term outcomes and postoperative recovery than OICR, with no differences in long-term outcomes. LICR may provide greater benefits in selected patients with primary CD.

Surgical features to reduce anastomotic recurrence of Crohn's disease that requires reoperation: a systematic review

Anastomotic recurrence after intestinal resection is one of the main embarrassing problems encountered during Crohn's disease (CD) management. This complication is often associated with an expected consequence, mainly a multiple intestinal resection. This systematic review evaluates published evidence on surgical features to reduce surgical recurrence after bowel resection and provide surgeons with recommendations based on published evidence. We conducted bibliographic research on September 05, 2020, through PubMed, Cochrane database, and Google scholar. We retained meta-analysis, randomized clinical trials, and controlled clinical trials. The strength of clinical data and subsequent recommendations were graded according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Fourteen articles were retained. Early resection reduces surgical relapse and the need for additional medical treatment. There was no difference between conventional and laparoscopic bowel resection. Mesenteric excision seems to reduce surgical recurrence. Stapled side-to-side anastomosis reduces surgical recurrence. However, no difference was observed between Kono-S anastomosis ensure at least similar anastomotic recurrence rate compared to conventional anastomosis. Surgical recurrence was reduced after bowel resection when compared to stricturoplasty. There was no difference between the one and two steps resection. Several surgical features have been investigated. Some of them were unanimously found to be effective in lengthening the disease-free relapse. However, others are still controversial.

Managing Stricturing Crohn's Disease: Resect? Strictureplasty? Dilate?

Crohn's disease (CD) is a pan-intestinal disease of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by inflammatory, penetrating, and fibrostenotic phenotypes. Fibrostenotic stricture formation, without inflammatory or penetrating disease, is a common complication in CD, primarily affecting the small intestine and leading to small bowel obstruction. Because there is no medical therapy that prevents or reverses stricturing disease, endoscopic and surgical treatments are the mainstays of treatment, indicated to palliate symptoms and treat the complications. Endoscopic approaches include dilation, stricturotomy, and endoscopic stenting. Surgical options include resection, intestinal bypass, and various strictureplasty techniques. In this article, we will focus on the treatment of stricturing CD: specifically, the considerations important in choosing between different treatment options and technical tips to deal with complicated disease.

WSES-AAST guidelines: management of inflammatory bowel disease in the emergency setting

BACKGROUND

Despite the current therapeutic options for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, surgery is still frequently required in the emergency setting, although the number of cases performed seems to have decreased in recent years. The World Society of Emergency Surgery decided to debate in a consensus conference of experts, the main pertinent issues around the management of inflammatory bowel disease in the emergent situation, with the need to provide focused guidelines for acute care and emergency surgeons.

METHOD

A group of experienced surgeons and gastroenterologists were nominated to develop the topics assigned and answer the questions addressed by the Steering Committee of the project. Each expert followed a precise analysis and grading of the studies selected for review. Statements and recommendations were discussed and voted at the Consensus Conference of the 6th World Society of Emergency Surgery held in Nijmegen (The Netherlands) in June 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Complicated inflammatory bowel disease requires a multidisciplinary approach because of the complexity of this patient group and disease spectrum in the emergency setting, with the aim of obtaining safe surgery with good functional outcomes and a decreasing stoma rate where appropriate.

Post-surgical recurrence of Crohn's disease: Situational analysis and future prospects

Surgery retains a major role in the treatment of Crohn's disease, and the prevention of post-operative recurrence is an essential issue. In fact, despite the increasing use of biotherapies, almost all of the patients who undergo surgery will present with a recurrence, initially endoscopic and then clinical, eventually leading to a second intervention in 15 to 20% of cases. Certain risk factors for recurrence such as smoking, repeated and/or extensive resections, anoperineal involvement, myenteric plexitis, epithelioid granulomas, penetrating disease behaviour and lack of post-operative prophylactic treatment have been well established. Currently, measures to prevent post-operative recurrence are based mainly on smoking cessation in all patients and the prescription of anti-TNFα medications for patients with a high risk of recurrence (at least two risk factors for recurrence). However, new surgical techniques have recently been described which could modify post-operative prevention strategies. Kono's lateral anti-mesenteric anastomosis could significantly reduce clinical and endoscopic recurrence compared to conventional anastomosis techniques. Long latero-lateral isoperistaltic stricturoplasties have been shown to be feasible and are associated with a low rate of long-term symptomatic recurrence requiring surgery. In a preliminary series, intestinal resections with extensive mesenteric resection reduced the rate of recurrence in comparison with patients operated on conventionally (3% vs. 40% at five years). If the results of these new surgical techniques are confirmed, the indications for post-operative immunomodulatory treatments could be downgraded in patients currently considered to be at high risk of recurrence.

The role of Kono-S anastomosis and mesenteric resection in reducing recurrence after surgery for Crohn's disease: a systematic review

AIM

Recurrence after surgery for Crohn's disease is common. Anastomotic configuration may influence recurrence and the mesentery may be key. Recently the Kono-S anastomosis and radical mesenteric excision have been proposed as methods of reducing recurrence. We analysed the literature pertaining to these novel techniques.

METHOD

We searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library for, and selected, studies evaluating Kono-S anastomosis and/or radical mesenteric excision in Crohn's disease. We assessed methodological quality and risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for nonrandomized trials. A narrative synthesis was used to summarize the findings.

RESULTS

Nine studies (896 patients) were identified. Apart from one randomized controlled trial with a low risk of bias the overall level of evidence was poor (Grade IV). The Kono-S anastomosis was associated with a lower incidence of endoscopic and surgical recurrence (0%-3.4% vs 15%-24.4% respectively). Complications, particularly anastomotic leak rate, were also lower (1.8% vs 9.3% respectively). Evidence from a single poor quality study suggested that mesenteric excision may reduce surgical recurrence rates compared with mesentery preservation.

CONCLUSION

The existing literature suggests that the Kono-S anastomosis is safe and may reduce endoscopic and surgical recurrence, but level of evidence is mainly poor. One element of the Kono-S technique, preservation of the mesentery, may be detrimental to recurrence. Further, higher quality, studies are required to investigate these techniques. Such studies should consider the impact of the degree of mesenteric resection in addition to the anastomosis on disease recurrence.

Prophylaxis of Crohn's disease recurrence: A surgeon's perspective

Management of inflammatory bowel disease has evolved extensively in the last three decades. We have learnt a lot about the pathophysiology and natural history of the disease. New effective classes of drugs with the associated potential morbidity have been introduced. New surgical techniques have been popularized leading to a better understanding of the optimal timing of surgery. The result is a very complex subspecialty of gastroenterology and colorectal surgery called the "IBDologist." Only if we manage these complex patients in the context of a multi-disciplinary team will we be able to obtain outstanding outcomes, specifically with high and sustained remission rates for these patients.

Endoscopy after surgery in inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease recurrence and pouch surveillance

INTRODUCTION

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are immune-mediated disorders characterized by a chronic inflammation, with intermittent exacerbations of symptoms and inflammation. In both diseases, medical treatment has made revolutionary steps forward. Nevertheless, surgery is still required in many cases due to inefficacy of multiple medical therapies. It is not clear whether surgery rates in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are currently decreasing despite all improvements.

AREAS COVERED

Multidisciplinary management is critical in surgical patients to improve long-term outcomes. Endoscopy plays a crucial role, both before and after surgery, in planning therapeutic strategies and stratifying risk of recurrence. Aim of this review is to provide a deeper insight into the central role of endoscopy in the postoperative management of IBD patients, focusing on recent research advances, future challenges and unresolved questions.

EXPERT OPINION

Both UC and CD surgical patients need endoscopy to define the correct therapeutic choice, predict subsequent disease course and adopt the correct surveillance strategy. In the next future, newer endoscopic techniques could be systematically applied in IBD patients after surgery, to assess early postoperative inflammation, response to treatment, or, regarding UC, to provide enhanced pouch surveillance, allowing for early detection of inflammation and dysplasia.

Kono-S anastomosis after intestinal resection for Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Kono-S anastomosis was described for the first time in 2011 and it showed a lower surgical recurrence rate in patients with Crohn's disease when compared to the standard technique. The aim of this review is to assess the safety and effectiveness of this surgical procedure by analyzing the data existing in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pubmed, EMBASE and Scopus databases were used as data sources for a systematic comprehensive search of all studies where Kono-S anastomosis was performed in patients with Crohn's disease. Perioperative data and clinical outcomes were measured.

RESULTS

Five studies described the use of Kono technique to restore intestinal continuity. Postoperative complications rates seem to be acceptable, with the exception of one case regarding the surgical site infection and bowel obstruction rates of one of the studies compared to the others. Surgical recurrence rate ranges from 0 to 3.4% with significant differences between Kono-S anastomosis and other techniques in the only two existing comparative studies.

CONCLUSION

Kono's anastomosis seems to be a safe procedure with encouraging results on the reduction of the need for reoperation due to relapse, but the few existing studies do not allow to draw final conclusions. Further comparative, randomized studies, with appropriate sample size, follow up and endoscopic evaluation are necessary to establish the real benefits in the use of this hand-sewn antimesenteric anastomosis compared to a stapled wide lumen side-to-side anastomosis.

ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Surgical Treatment

This article is the second in a series of two publications relating to the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] evidence-based consensus on the management of Crohn's disease. The first article covers medical management; the present article addresses surgical management, including preoperative aspects and drug management before surgery. It also provides technical advice for a variety of common clinical situations. Both articles together represent the evidence-based recommendations of the ECCO for Crohn's disease and an update of previous guidelines.

Does Smoking Cessation Reduce Surgical Recurrence After Primary Ileocolic Resection for Crohn's Disease?

BACKGROUND

Tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for recurrence of Crohn's disease after surgical resection.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the effect of smoking cessation on long-term surgical recurrence after primary ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease.

DESIGN

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted.

SETTINGS

Patient demographic data and medical and surgical details were combined from 2 specialist centers. After ethical approval, patients were contacted in case of missing data regarding smoking habit.

PATIENTS

All patients undergoing ileocolic resection between 2000 and 2012 for histologically confirmed Crohn's disease were included. Those with previous intestinal resection, strictureplasty for Crohn's disease, leak after ileocolic resection, or who were never reversed were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary end point was surgical recurrence measured by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and secondary medical therapy at time of follow-up.

RESULTS

Over a 12-year period, 290 patients underwent ileocolic resection. Full smoking data were available for 242 (83%) of 290 patients. There were 169 nonsmokers (70%; group 1), 42 active smokers at the time of ileocolic resection who continued smoking up to last follow-up (17%; group 2), and 31 (13%) who quit smoking after ileocolic resection (group 3). The median time of smoking exposure after ileocolic resection for group 3 was 3 years (interquartile range, 0-6 y), and median follow-up time for the whole group was 112 months (9 mo; interquartile range, 84-148 mo). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly higher surgical recurrence rate for group 2 compared with group 3 (16/42 (38%) vs 3/31 (10%); p = 0.02; risk ratio = 3.9 (95% CI, 1-12)). In addition, significantly more patients in group 2 without surgical recurrence received immunomodulatory maintenance therapy compared with group 3 (12/26 (46%) vs 4/28 (14%); p = 0.01; risk ratio = 3.2 (95% CI, 1-9)).

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by its retrospective design and small number of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking cessation after primary ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease may significantly reduce long-term risk of surgical recurrence and is associated with less use of maintenance therapy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B86. ¿DEJAR DE FUMAR REDUCE LA RECURRENCIA QUIRÚRGICA DESPUÉS DE LA RESECCIÓN ILEOCÓLICA PRIMARIA PARA LA ENFERMEDAD DE CROHN?: Fumar tabaco es un factor de riesgo conocido para la recurrencia de la enfermedad de Crohn después de la resección quirúrgica.Evaluar el efecto de dejar de fumar en la recurrencia quirúrgica a largo plazo después de la resección ileocólica primaria para la enfermedad de Crohn.Revisión retrospectiva de una base de datos mantenida prospectivamente.Se combinaron datos demográficos del paciente, así como detalles médicos y quirúrgicos de dos centros especializados. Después de la aprobación ética, se contactó a los pacientes en caso de falta de datos sobre el hábito de fumar.Todos los pacientes sometidos a resección ileocólica entre 2000 y 2012 por enfermedad de Crohn confirmada histológicamente. Se excluyeron aquellos con resección intestinal previa, estenosis por enfermedad de Crohn, fuga después de resección ileocólica o que nunca se revirtieron.La principal variable fue la recurrencia quirúrgica medida por análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier, terapia médica secundaria en el momento del seguimiento.Durante un período de 12 años, 290 pacientes fueron sometidos a resección ileocólica. Se dispuso de datos completos sobre el tabaquismo para 242/290 (83%). Hubo 169 no fumadores (70%) (grupo 1), 42 (17%) fumadores activos en el momento de la resección ileocólica que continuaron fumando hasta el último seguimiento (grupo 2) y 31 (13%) que dejaron de fumar después de resección ileocólica (grupo 3). La mediana del tiempo de exposición al tabaquismo después de la resección ileocólica para el grupo 3 fue de 3 años (IQR 0-6) y la mediana del tiempo de seguimiento para todo el grupo fue de 112 meses (9 años) (IQR 84-148). El análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier mostró una tasa de recurrencia quirúrgica significativamente mayor para el grupo 2 en comparación con el grupo 3 (16/42 (38%) frente a 3/31 (10%), p = 0.02; razón de riesgo 3.9 (IC 95% 1-12)). Además, un número significativamente mayor de pacientes del grupo 2 sin recurrencia quirúrgica recibieron terapia de mantenimiento inmunomoduladora en comparación con el grupo 3 (12/26 (46%) frente a 4/28 (14%), p = 0.01; razón de riesgo 3.2 (IC 95% 1-9)).Diseño retrospectivo y pequeño número de pacientes.Dejar de fumar después de la resección ileocólica primaria para la enfermedad de Crohn puede reducir significativamente el riesgo a largo plazo de recurrencia quirúrgica y se asocia con un menor uso del tratamiento de mantenimiento. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B86. (Traducción-Dr. Gonzalo Federico Hagerman).

The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland consensus guidelines in surgery for inflammatory bowel disease

AIM

There is a requirement of an expansive and up to date review of surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can dovetail with the medical guidelines produced by the British Society of Gastroenterology.

METHODS

Surgeons who are members of the ACPGBI with a recognised interest in IBD were invited to contribute various sections of the guidelines. They were directed to produce a procedure based document using literature searches that were systematic, comprehensible, transparent and reproducible. Levels of evidence were graded. An editorial board was convened to ensure consistency of style, presentation and quality. Each author was asked to provide a set of recommendations which were evidence based and unambiguous. These recommendations were submitted to the whole guideline group and scored. They were then refined and submitted to a second vote. Only those that achieved >80% consensus at level 5 (strongly agree) or level 4 (agree) after 2 votes were included in the guidelines.

RESULTS

All aspects of surgical care for IBD have been included along with 157 recommendations for management.

CONCLUSION

These guidelines provide an up to date and evidence based summary of the current surgical knowledge in the management of IBD and will serve as a useful practical text for clinicians performing this type of surgery.

Ileocecal Anastomosis Type Significantly Influences Long-Term Functional Status, Quality of Life, and Healthcare Utilization in Postoperative Crohn's Disease Patients Independent of Inflammation Recurrence

OBJECTIVES

Anastomotic reconstruction following intestinal resection in Crohn's disease (CD) may employ side-to-side anastomosis (STSA; anti-peristaltic orientation) or end-to-end anastomosis (ETEA). Our aim was to determine the impact of these two anastomotic techniques on long-term clinical status in postoperative CD patients.

METHODS

We performed a comparative effectiveness study of prospectively collected observational data from consented CD patients undergoing their first or second ileocolonic bowel resection and re-anastomosis between 2008 and 2012, in order to assess the association between anastomosis type and 2-year postoperative quality of life (QoL), healthcare utilization, disease clinical or endoscopic recurrence, use of medications, and need for repeat resection.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty eight postoperative CD patients (60 STSA and 68 ETEA) were evaluated. At 2 years postoperatively, STSA patients had higher rates of emergency department visits (33.3% vs. 14.7%; P=0.01), hospitalizations (30% vs. 11.8%; P=0.01), and abdominal computed tomography scans (50% vs. 13.2%; P<0.001) with lower QoL (mean short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire 47.9 vs. 53.4; P=0.007). There was no difference among the two groups in the 30 day surgical complications and 2-year patterns of disease activity, CD medication requirement, endoscopic recurrence, and need for new surgical management (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

At 2 years postoperatively, CD patients with ETEA demonstrated better QoL and less healthcare utilization compared with STSA, despite having similar patterns of disease recurrence and CD treatment. These findings suggest that surgical reconstruction of the bowel as an intact tube (ETEA) contribute to improved functional and clinical status in patients with CD.

Stapled side-to-side anastomosis might be benefit in intestinal resection for Crohn's disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Intestinal anastomosis is an essential step in the intestinal resection in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Anastomotic configuration such as handsewn end-to-end anastomosis (HEEA), stapled side-to-side anastomosis (SSSA) and so on may be a predictor of prognosis for postoperative CD patients. However, the association between anastomotic types and surgical outcomes are controversial. The aim of this review is to identify the optimal anastomosis for intestinal resection in patients with CD.

METHODS

Clinical trials comparing anastomosis after intestinal resection in patients with CD were searched in the database of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Outcomes such as postoperative hospital stay, complications, mortality, recurrence, and reoperation were evaluated. Pairwise treatment effects were estimated through a random-effects network meta-analysis based on the frequency framework by using the STATA software and reported as the estimated summary effect for each comparison between the 2 treatments in the network with a 95% credible interval.

RESULTS

A total of 1113 patients in 11 trials were included. In pair-wise comparisons between groups, for overall postoperative complications, SSSA showed a more probability of superiority to HEEA; for complications other than anastomotic leak, anastomotic leak, wound infection, postoperative hospital stay and mortality, there were no significant difference between groups; for clinical recurrence, SSSA showed a more probability of superiority to HEEA; for reoperation, SSSA showed a more probability of superiority to HEEA. The number of eligible randomized controlled trails (RCTs) was small, and more than half of the included trials were retrospective studies; selection bias may lead to a less power in this assessment; follow-up time between different groups was different, which may possibly have affected the interpretation of the analysis of long-term outcome.

CONCLUSION

By comprehensive analyzing all the postoperative outcomes, SSSA appeared to be the optimal anastomotic strategy after intestinal resection for patients with CD.

The Presence of Postoperative Infectious Complications is Associated with the Risk of Early Postoperative Clinical Recurrence of Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to identify risk factors for early clinical and surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD) patients who underwent intestinal resection.

METHOD

This was a retrospective study. Consecutive patients who underwent intestinal resection with a primary anastomosis from January 2011-December 2014 were enrolled. Gender, age at surgery, clinical phenotypes of CD, serum albumin and C-reactive protein level the day before surgery, smoking status at surgery, anastomosis technique, number of anastomoses, details of postoperative complications, the postoperative prophylactic treatment were assessed to figure out risk factors for postoperative clinical and surgical recurrence within 1 year after the initial resection by univariate and then multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty-seven patients were analyzed. The risk of early postoperative clinical recurrence was 2.99 times higher in patients suffered postoperative infectious complications [odds ratio (OR) 2.99; 95% CIs, 1.42-6.32; p = 0.004], while never-smoking was found to be a protective factor for early clinical recurrence (OR 0.326; 95% CIs, 0.18-0.59; p < 0.0001). For surgical recurrence within 1 year after resection, the presence of postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications might be a risk factor (OR 6.77; 95% CIs, 1.61-28.5; p = 0.009). Smoker at surgery was also a risk factor for early surgical recurrence (OR 5.41; 95% CIs, 1.36-21.5; p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

The presence of postoperative infectious complications was identified as a possible risk factor for early postoperative clinical recurrence after resection in CD patients.

Does Anastomosis Configuration Influence Long-term Outcomes in Patients With Crohn Disease?

Purpose

In this study, we evaluated the role of various anastomoses in surgical recurrence for patients with Crohn disease (CD).

Methods

We analyzed data retrospectively from consecutive laparotomy cases involving complicated CD between 1991 and 2008. Clinical data were compared in terms of reoperation-free survival (RFS) according to the types of anastomoses, the materials used for the anastomoses, and the operating surgeon.

Results

Of 233 patients with entero-enteric or entero-colic anastomoses, 199 (85%), 11 (5%), and 23 (10%) experienced side-to-side (SS), side-to-end (SE), and end-to-end (EE) anastomoses, respectively. The SS group had the following characteristics: more extensive bowel involvement, frequent obstruction, and greater stapler use; the SS anastomoses were also frequently made by specialized surgeons (P < 0.001–0.004). EE anastomoses were frequently made by general surgeons using a hand-sewing technique (P < 0.001). No differences in RFS were noted among the 3 groups according to the type of anastomosis and the operating surgeon. However, the hand-sewn group showed better RFS than the stapler group (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

The roles of the anastomotic configuration, the material used, and the operating surgeon were not significantly correlated with reoperations or complications in our retrospective CD cohort, irrespective of the higher risk of anastomosis site stricture for EE anastomoses.

Patient optimization for surgery relating to Crohn's disease

The majority of patients with Crohn's disease require abdominal surgery during their lifetime, some of whom will require multiple operations. Postoperative complications are seen more frequently in patients requiring abdominal surgery for Crohn's disease than in patients requiring abdominal surgery for other conditions. In this article, we review the evidence supporting preoperative optimization, discussing strategies that potentially improve surgical outcomes and reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality. We discuss the roles of adequate cross-sectional imaging, nutritional optimization, appropriate adjustments of medical therapy, management of preoperative abscesses and phlegmons, smoking cessation and thromboembolic prophylaxis. We also review operation-related factors, and discuss their potential implications with respect to postoperative complications. Overall, the literature suggests that preoperative management has a major effect on postoperative outcomes.

Is "functional end-to-end anastomosis" really functional? A review of the literature on stapled anastomosis using linear staplers

PURPOSES

Anastomosis is one of the basic skills of a gastrointestinal surgeon. Stapling devices are widely used because stapled anastomosis (SA) can shorten operation times. Antiperistaltic stapled side-to-side anastomosis (SSSA) using linear staplers is a popular SA technique that is often referred to as "functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA)." The term "FEEA" has spread without any definite validation of its "function." The aim of this review is to show the heterogeneity of SA and conventional hand-sewn end-to-end anastomosis (HEEA) and to advocate the renaming of "FEEA."

METHODS

We conducted a narrative review of the literature on SSSA. We reviewed the literature on ileocolic and small intestinal anastomosis in colonic cancer, Crohn's disease and ileostomy closure due to the simplicity of the technique.

RESULTS

The superiority of SSSA in comparison to HEEA has been demonstrated in previous clinical studies concerning gastrointestinal anastomosis. Additionally, experimental studies have shown the differences between the two anastomotic techniques on peristalsis and the intestinal bacteria at the anastomotic site.

CONCLUSIONS

SSSA and HEEA affect the postoperative clinical outcome, electrophysiological peristalsis, and bacteriology in different manners; no current studies have shown the functional equality of SSSA and HEEA. However, the use of the terms "functional end-to-end anastomosis" and/or "FEEA" could cause confusion for surgeons and researchers and should therefore be avoided.

Colonic disease site and perioperative complications predict need for later intestinal interventions following intestinal resection in pediatric Crohn's disease

INTRODUCTION

We studied variables associated with outcomes following intestinal resection for Crohn's disease.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained single surgeon database was performed. Outcomes evaluated included disease recurrence, need for further resection/dilatation, and complications. Explanatory variables included: anatomical region of resection, open or laparoscopic approach, surgical procedure, technique of anastomosis, number of anastomoses, use of biological therapy, resection margin disease, age at resection, and period (quartile) in series.

RESULTS

81 children had 100 resections at a median age 14.5years with a median follow-up of 7.7years. Overall complication rate was 22%. Of the 77 children with no prior resection, 40 (52%) had disease recurrence, and 24 (31%) underwent further resection or dilatation. None of the explanatory variables predicted complications. Disease recurrence was significantly associated with younger age at first resection but not duration of follow-up. The probability of further intestinal intervention was strongly associated with disease site and complications. Odds ratio for further surgery for colonic disease site compared to ileocecal disease site was 7 (95% CI 1.8-26; P=0.004). Odds ratio for further intestinal resection following surgery where a complication had occurred compared to no complication was 3.4 (95% CI 1.1-10.3; P=0.02. Both disease site and complication status also significantly affected the interval to further surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The probability of requiring a second intestinal intervention for pediatric Crohn's disease is related to the disease site and the complication status.

Image-guided Percutaneous Drainage for Treatment of Post-Surgical Anastomotic Leak in Patients with Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Anastomotic leaks with abscess formation are a common complication after bowel surgery in Crohn's disease patients. Image-guided percutaneous drainage is an attractive alternative to reoperation because of decreased morbidity and length of hospital stay. Because data for this specific population are scarce, the purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of image-guided percutaneous drainage in the management of post-surgical anastomotic leak in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

A total of 41 patients who underwent percutaneous drain placement for the treatment of fluid collections due to anastomotic leak from September 2004 to November 2013 were retrospectively identified from the electronic medical record and picture archiving and communication system. Data recorded included number, size, and location of anastomotic leaks, number of drains placed, number of follow-up visits, post-drainage complications, abscess resolution, and subsequent surgeries.

RESULTS

In all, 41 patients with 76 fluid collections were identified as having received percutaneous drains. The mean number of targeted fluid collections per patient was 1.5, and the mean duration between surgery and percutaneous drain placement was 18.5 days. The mean number of drains placed was 1.6, and the median drain size was 10 French [range 8-16 French]. One of 41 [2.4%] patients experienced a minor complication from drain placement [injury to a superficial abdominal artery] and no major complications occurred. Two of 41 [4.9%] patients required repeat surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

Image-guided percutaneous drainage for the treatment of post-surgical anastomotic leaks in Crohn's patients is effective and safe, with low rates of complications and reoperations.

Novel antimesenteric functional end-to-end handsewn (Kono-S) anastomoses for Crohn's disease: a report of surgical procedure and short-term outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Anastomotic surgical recurrence after bowel resection is a major problem in patients with Crohn's disease. The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel technique for restoring bowel continuity after resection involving either the small or the large intestine.

METHODS

The first case was instructed by Dr. Kono at Fujita Health University. The involved bowel segment was divided transversely with a linear stapler. The edges of two stapled lines are then connected to create a supporting column, which prevented surgical recurrence from anastomotic distortion due to mesenteric longitudinal ulcers. Thereafter, an antimesenteric longitudinal enterotomy was performed on each side to create a large-sized handsewn end-to-end anastomosis.

RESULTS

Thirty consecutive patients underwent Kono-S anastomoses from December 2009 to August 2013. Neither anastomotic leakage nor surgical recurrence was observed during a median follow-up period of 35 months. Endoscopic surveillance was performed in 18 cases (69.2%) undergoing ileo-colonic or ileo-rectal anastomosis with an average Rutgeert's score of 0.78 (0-3) at a mean of 14.5 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

The Kono-S anastomosis for Crohn's disease has been a safe and feasible technique. Long-term outcomes are required to confirm its advantage in preventing surgical recurrence at the anastomosis.

Ileocolonic anastomosis after right hemicolectomy for colon cancer: functional end-to-end or end-to-side?

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare short-term clinical outcomes of ileocolonic functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA) and end-to-side anastomosis (ESA) following resection of the right colon for cancer.

Methods

We enrolled 379 patients who underwent ileocolonic anastomosis following resection of the right colon for cancer by a single surgeon, from January 2009 through June 2012. Patient characteristics, operative results, and postoperative complications were analyzed.

Results

A total of 164 patients received ESA and 215 patients received FEEA. The FEEA group had a lower incidence of anastomotic error (0.9% versus 4.3%; P = 0.04) and a shorter operating time (140.4 ± 14.9 min versus 150.5 ± 20.1 min; P = 0.001). The length of hospital stay (10.9 ± 3.5 days versus 11.3 ± 4.0 days; P = 0.36) and anastomotic leakage (1.8% versus 0.5%; P = 0.20) were similar in both groups. No relevant differences between FEEA and ESA were observed for blood loss, retrieved lymph nodes, first flatus and postoperative complications.

Conclusion

An FEEA after right hemicolectomy for colon cancer is a safe and reliable anastomotic technique, resulting in a favorable outcome in selected patients with the right colon cancer.

Stapled side-to-side anastomosis might be better than handsewn end-to-end anastomosis in ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ileocolic anastomosis is an essential step in the treatment to restore continuity of the gastrointestinal tract following ileocolic resection in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, the association between anastomotic type and surgical outcome is controversial.

AIMS

The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare surgical outcomes between stapled side-to-side anastomosis (SSSA) and handsewn end-to-end anastomosis (HEEA) after ileocolic resection in patients with CD.

METHODS

Studies comparing SSSA with HEEA after ileocolic resection in patients with CD were identified in PubMed and EMBASE. Outcomes such as complication, recurrence, and re-operation were evaluated. Eight studies (three randomized controlled trials, one prospective non-randomized trial, and four non-randomized retrospective trials) comparing SSSA (396 cases) and HEEA (425 cases) were included.

RESULTS

As compared with HEEA, SSSA was superior in terms of overall postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR), 0.54; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.32-0.93], anastomotic leak (OR 0.45; 95 % CI 0.20-1.00), recurrence (OR 0.20; 95 % CI 0.07-0.55), and re-operation for recurrence (OR 0.18; 95 % CI 0.07-0.45). Postoperative hospital stay, mortality, and complications other than anastomotic leak were comparable.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of our meta-analysis, SSSA would appear to be the preferred procedure after ileocolic resection for CD, with reduced overall postoperative complications, especially anastomotic leak, and a decreased recurrence and re-operation rate.