Management of colorectal anastomotic stricture with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM)

Resolution of occult anastomotic stricture with anal dilator: challenges with the conventional diagnostic criteria in low anterior rectal resection patient-a case report

Background

Anastomotic stricture (AS) is a common complication following rectal cancer surgery with anastomosis, but its diagnosis and management pose significant challenges due to the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria. We present a case highlighting the complexities encountered in diagnosing and managing occult AS post-rectal cancer surgery.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old male patient presented with symptoms suggestive of AS following robot-assisted laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal adenocarcinoma. Despite conventional evaluations, including colonoscopy, digital rectal examination, and radiography, AS was not identified. Following prolonged and ineffective treatment for suspected conditions such as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), the patient underwent anal dilatation, resulting in significant symptom improvement.

Conclusions

This case underscores the challenges associated with diagnosing and managing occult AS following rectal cancer surgery. The absence of standardized diagnostic criteria and reliance on conventional modalities may lead to underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. A comprehensive diagnostic approach considering intestinal diameter, elasticity, and symptoms related to difficult defecation may enhance diagnostic accuracy. Further research is needed to refine the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for occult AS.

Endoscopic Stricturoplasty with Linear Stapler: An Efficient Alternative for the Refractory Rectal Anastomotic Stricture

INTRODUCTION

Symptomatic anastomotic stricture is a rare but major complication after left-sided colorectal surgery. Hydraulic balloon dilatation is the first-line treatment in cases where the complication occurs, but 20% of patients present with refractory strictures after multiple sessions. Endoscopic stricturoplasty with the use of a linear stapler is a novel therapeutic alternative for those difficult cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified all patients in our department who underwent endoscopic stricturoplasty with a linear stapler between 2004 and 2022. The technical, periinterventional, and follow-up data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified nine patients who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The procedure was technically possible in eight cases, whereas in one case, the anatomy of the anastomosis did not allow for a correct placement of the stapler. All patients with a technically successful procedure were relieved from their symptoms and could have their ostomy reversed. There was no periprocedural morbidity and mortality. Two patients presented with a recurrent stricture eight and 26 months after the initial stricturoplasty, and the procedure was successfully repeated in both cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic stricturoplasty is a feasible, safe, and minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of refractory anastomotic strictures in the distal colon and rectum for patients with a suitable anatomy.

Endoscopic Stricturotomy for Patients With Postoperative Benign Anastomotic Stricture for Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Postoperative benign anastomotic stricture is associated with colorectal anastomosis following surgery for colorectal cancer. Endoscopic stricturotomy is a novel technique that has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for the treatment of colorectal anastomotic stricture in several case reports and series.

OBJECTIVE

We designed this study to investigate the efficacy of endoscopic stricturotomy for postoperative benign anastomotic stricture in patients for colorectal cancer. The primary outcomes were stricture-recurrence-free survival and reoperation-free survival.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective study.

SETTING

This study presents a single-center experience.

PATIENTS

This retrospective study included patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection and developed anastomotic stricture between January 2014 and June 2019 and were treated with endoscopic stricturotomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Immediate technical success of endoscopic stricturotomy and the factors associated with success and recurrence were investigated.

RESULTS

Endoscopic stricturotomy was performed in 57 patients, and immediate technical success was achieved in 84% of the patients. The mean follow-up was 31.3 (15.8) months (range, 9-74 months). Postoperative benign anastomotic stricture recurred in 11 patients after initial successful endoscopic stricturotomy; 10 of the 11 recurrent patients accepted reoperation. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that length of stricture ≥1 cm was an independent risk factor for failure of the initial endoscopic stricturotomy (OR, 9.423; 95% CI, 1.729-51.350; p = 0.010) and the recurrence of postoperative benign anastomotic stricture after the initial endoscopic stricturotomy (OR, 13.521; 95% CI, 2.305-79.306; p = 0.004).

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by its small sample size and retrospective design.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic stricturotomy is a safe and effective technique for postoperative benign anastomotic stricture. However, if the length of the stricture is ≥1 cm, endoscopic stricturotomy may not be effective, and recurrence of postoperative benign anastomotic stricture is also likely. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B739.

ESTRICTUROTOMA ENDOSCPICA PARA PACIENTES CON ESTRICCIN ANASTOMTICA BENIGNA POSTOPERATORIA PARA EL CNCER COLORRECTAL

ANTECEDENTES:La estenosis anastomótica benigna postoperatoria se asocia con anastomosis colorrectal después de la cirugía para el cáncer colorrectal. La estricturotomia endoscópica es una técnica novedosa que se ha demostrado que es segura y efectiva para el tratamiento de la estenosis anastomótica colorrectal en varios informes de casos o series.OBJETIVO:Diseñamos este estudio para investigar la eficacia de la estricturotomia endoscópica para la estenosis anastomótica benigna postoperatoria en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal. El resultado primario fue la supervivencia libre de restricción estricta y la supervivencia libre de reoperación.DISEÑO:Este es un estudio retrospectivo.CONFIGURACIÓN:Este estudio presenta una experiencia de un solo centro.PACIENTES:Este estudio retrospectivo incluyó pacientes con cáncer colorrectal que se sometieron a resección quirúrgica y desarrollaron estenosis anastomótica entre enero de 2014 y junio de 2019 y tratados con estricturotomia endoscópica.MEDIDAS PRINCIPALES DE RESULTADO:Éxito técnico inmediato y estenosurotomía endoscópica, los factores asociados con el éxito y la recurrencia.RESULTADOS:Se realizó estricturotomia endoscópica en 57 pacientes, y se logró un éxito técnico inmediato en el 84% de los pacientes. El seguimiento medio fue de 31,3 (15,8) meses (rango, 9 a 74 meses), el POBAS se repitió en 11 pacientes después del éxito inicial de ESt. 10 de los 11 pacientes recurrentes aceptaron la reoperación. El análisis univariado y multivariado indicó que la longitud de la estenosis ≥1 cm era un factor de riesgo independiente para el fracaso de la estricturotomia endoscópica inicial (odds ratio = 9,423; IC del 95% = 1.729-51.350; p = 0.010) y la recurrencia de estenosis anastomótica benigna postoperatoria después de la estricturotomia endoscópica inicial (odds ratio = 13,521; IC del 95% = 2,305-79,306; p = 0.004).LIMITACIONES:El estudio estuvo limitado por su pequeño tamaño de muestra y diseño retrospectivo.CONCLUSIONES:La estricturotomia endoscópica es una técnica segura y efectiva para la estructura anastomótica benigna postoperatoria. Sin embargo, si la longitud de la estenosis es ≥1 cm, la estricturotomia endoscópica puede no ser efectiva y también es probable que se repita la estenosis anastomótica benigna postoperatoria. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B739.

Non-conventional applications for Transanal endoscopic microsurgery. A single centre experience and a systematic review of literature

BACKGROUND

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and Transanal endoscopic operation (TEO) have been initially described for local excision of rectal adenomas and selected cases of rectal carcinomas. In the past decade, however, several new indications raised, and others could raise in the future. The aim of this review was to evaluate, both in the literature and in our personal experience, the use of TEM and TEO for nonconventional applications, different from rectal tumors.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of published papers and we selected articles reporting patients who underwent endoscopic surgery for other medical reason than polyp cancer resection, with TEM or TEO. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and bibliographies of the selected studies were searched for articles in English published up to May 2020 to identify all relevant articles. We excluded articles reporting TEM and TEO used for classical indications. We finally report our experience of non-conventional use of TEO in 5 patients with different diseases.

RESULTS

The research revealed 800 papers and among them we selected 52 articles for a total of 697 patients. Of all patients, only 52 had intraoperative or postoperative complications, with only 10 patients requiring major surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggest that TEM and TEO may be valid alternatives to traditional surgery in situations other than its classical indication. These findings can positively impact on the care of patients, who could benefit from less invasive surgical procedures associated with lower morbidity.

Changes to gastrointestinal function after surgery for colorectal cancer

Bowel function is increasingly considered as an important outcome for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. Increasing technical skills and technological advances have meant fewer patients require a long-term stoma but this comes at the cost, often, of poor function. With a larger range of treatment options available for a given cancer, both function and oncology should be considered in parallel when counselling patients before surgery. In the perioperative phase, bowel function can be improved with minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, with limited evidence for targeted medical therapies. Early detection and sound management of surgical complications such as anastomotic leak and stricture can mitigate their adverse effects on bowel function. Long-term gastrointestinal dysfunction manifests as diarrhoea and low anterior resection syndrome for colon and rectal cancer respectively. Multi-modal strategies for low anterior resection syndrome are emerging to improve significantly quality of life after restorative rectal cancer surgery.