D-pouch: a modified ileal J-pouch for patients with ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis

Surgical Options for Appropriate Length of J-Pouch Construction for Better Outcomes and Long-term Quality of Life in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis after Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis

Background/Aims

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is widely accepted as a radical surgery for refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Definite results on the appropriate pouch length for an evaluation of the risk-to-benefit ratio regarding technical complications and long-term quality of life (QOL) are still scarce.

Methods

Data on UC patients who underwent IPAA from 2008 to 2022 in four well-established pouch centers affiliated to China UC Pouch Center Union were collected.

Results

A total of 208 patients with a median follow-up time of 6.0 years (interquartile range, 2.3 to 9.0 years) were enrolled. The median lengths of the patients' short and long pouches were 14.0 cm (interquartile range, 14.0 to 15.0 cm) and 22.0 cm (interquartile range, 20.0 to 24.0 cm), respectively. Patients with a short J pouch configuration were less likely to achieve significantly improved long-term QOL (p=0.015) and were prone to develop late postoperative complications (p=0.042), such as increased defecation frequency (p=0.003) and pouchitis (p=0.035). A short ileal pouch was an independent risk factor for the development of late postoperative complications (odds ratio, 3.100; 95% confidence interval, 1.519 to 6.329; p=0.002) and impaired longterm QOL improvement (odds ratio, 2.221; 95% confidence interval, 1.218 to 4.050, p=0.009).

Conclusions

The length of the J pouch was associated with the improvement in long-term QOL and the development of late post-IPAA complications. A long J pouch configuration could be a considerable surgical option for pouch construction.

Update on Surgical Management of FAP

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by pathogenic germline adenomatous polyposis coli mutation, and characterized with multiple adenomas in the colon and the rectum. Various genetic variants have been confirmed to be associated with corresponding FAP phenotypes, which play important roles in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of FAP. Generally, proctocolectomy is recommended for FAP patients at the age of 20s. Exceptionally, for patients with attenuated FAP, high-risk of desmoid, chemoprevention therapy, or other circumstances, surgery can be postponed. With the wide application of minimal invasive surgery in colorectal cancer, laparoscopic, robotic surgery, and natural orifice specimen extraction are proved to be feasible for FAP patients, but high-level evidences are needed to confirm their safety and advantages. In the times of precise medicine, the surgical management of FAP should vary with individuals based on genotype, phenotype, and clinical practice. Therefore, in addition to innovation in surgical procedures, investigation in links between genetic features and phenotypes will be helpful to optimize the surgical management of FAP in the future.

The anatomy and physiology of the ileal pouch and its relevance to pouch dysfunction

For the last 40 years, the ileal pouch-anal anastomosis has been used in patients with ulcerative colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis, and occasionally severe constipation to reconstruct the gastrointestinal tract after proctocolectomy. Although the procedure has generally been successful in helping patients avoid an ileostomy, it has come with its own set of problems. These include complications of the surgery such as fistulas and bowel obstruction, persistent inflammation of the pouch known as pouchitis, and functional problems related to the lack of expulsive peristalsis in the pouch. It is this last group of problems that is exacerbated by a poor diet, ill-advised anti-diarrheal medications, anal stenosis and pouch twists. As a consequence, patients with pouch problems are frequently referred for radiologic evaluation, with pouchography, defecation studies, and small bowel imaging commonly requested. In this review, the basic anatomy and physiology of the ileal pouch are discussed to provide a logical baseline against which to measure the anatomy of pouches and its relationship to the symptoms of pouch dysfunction.

The Evolution of Pelvic Pouch Surgery: Optimal Pouch Design for an Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis

The history of pouch surgery is rooted in surgical innovation to improve quality of life in patients requiring surgical extirpation of the colon and rectum. From the early straight ileoanal anastomosis to the continent ileostomy to the modern ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), techniques have evolved in response to pitfalls in design. Optimal IPAA design and construction have changed in response to functional outcomes. Nowadays, restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA is the optimal treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis. The J-pouch with stapled anastomosis has become the preferred procedure. Historical configurations and technical pearls, as described in this article, should be considered by surgeons who regularly care for patients requiring ileal pouch surgery.