The Fate of Reconstructive Surgery Following Colectomy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Sweden: A Population-based Cohort Study

Reasons for reduced reproduction after colectomy in women with ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVES

Colectomy and subsequent bowel reconstruction in women with ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with decreased fertility, this survey aims to investigate possible reasons for this.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Women with UC aged 18-44 years at colectomy 2000-2020 were identified and data were retrieved from the Swedish inflammatory bowel disease register (SWIBREG). Additional information was obtained using a study-specific questionnaire.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by 214 (72.8%) out of 294 eligible women. Mean age at disease onset was 22.9 years (standard deviation 0.5). No reconstruction was made in 67 (31.3%) women, whereof 24 (35.8%) had a completion proctectomy. Reconstruction was performed with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) in 66 (30.8%) women and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) in 81 (37.9%). Included women had on average 1.67 children (95% confidence interval 1.53-1.81) at the end of follow-up. The desire to have children was negatively affected by disease onset (59.4%), colectomy (44.9%) and reconstruction (36.7%). Altogether, 39.4% estimated that they had fewer children and 9.5% restrained completely from having children because of the disease. Difficulties to conceive were reported by 36.5% including 18.9% who expressed that they could not conceive at all. Difficulties to conceive was more common after reconstruction with IPAA (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.54) than IRA (OR 2.57).

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of women with UC and colectomy expressed that the disease affected their desire to have children, more often limiting the number of children than completely refraining. For childless patients, difficulties to conceive was more common than voluntary childlessness.

Influence of hospital-level and surgeon factors on the outcomes after ileo-anal pouch surgery for inflammatory bowel disease: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis ('pouch surgery') provides a chance to avoid permanent ileostomy after proctocolectomy, but can be associated with poor outcomes. The relationship between hospital-level/surgeon factors (including volume) and outcomes after pouch surgery is of increasing interest given arguments for increasing centralization of these complex procedures. The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the literature describing the influence of hospital-level and surgeon factors on outcomes after pouch surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed of studies reporting outcomes after pouch surgery for inflammatory bowel disease. The MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched (1978-2022). Data on outcomes, including mortality, morbidity, readmission, operative approach, reconstruction, postoperative parameters, and pouch-specific outcomes (failure), were extracted. Associations between hospital-level/surgeon factors and these outcomes were summarized. This systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42022352851).

RESULTS

A total of 29 studies, describing 41 344 patients who underwent a pouch procedure, were included; 3 studies demonstrated higher rates of pouch failure in lower-volume centres, 4 studies demonstrated higher reconstruction rates in higher-volume centres, 2 studies reported an inverse association between annual hospital pouch volume and readmission rates, and 4 studies reported a significant association between complication rates and surgeon experience.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the growing body of evidence that supports centralization of pouch surgery to specialist high-volume inflammatory bowel disease units. Centralization of this technically demanding surgery that requires dedicated perioperative medical and nursing support should facilitate improved patient outcomes and help train the next generation of pouch surgeons.

Ileorectal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis: what do surgeons and patients need to know? A systematic literature review

INTRODUCTION

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is currently the gold standard for restoration of gastrointestinal continuity after colectomy for ulcerative colitis in the UK. However, with further experience of the risks relating to IPAA, the use of ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) is being revisited. Decisions regarding restorative surgery after colectomy are individual to every patient's circumstances, and this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature to guide a full discussion of the risks and benefits of IRA.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted of papers published from 2000 onwards relating to IRA and ulcerative colitis, in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The papers were reviewed by two independent surgeons for information it was felt that patients and surgeons would want to know about the operation (cancer risk, bowel function, sexual and urinary function, fecundity/fertility and postoperative complications).

RESULTS

Seventeen papers were identified for inclusion as they reported original data on one or more of the categories identified for discussion. The median ten-year cancer risk after IRA was 2.8% and the median failure rate at ten years was 21%. IRA was generally found to have lower postoperative complication rates and better bowel function than IPAA, with sexual function similar and fecundity not commented on in any paper.

CONCLUSIONS

For some patients, IRA can offer restorative surgery in the short or long term, with acceptable cancer risk, failure rate and postoperative complications, while avoiding the higher risks associated with IPAA.

Female and Male Fertility after Colectomy and Reconstructive Surgery in Inflammatory Bowel Diesase: A National Cohort Study from Sweden

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Colectomy and reconstruction in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] may adversely affect fertility, but few population-based studies on this subject are available.

METHODS

Fertility was assessed in 2989 women and 3771 men with IBD and prior colectomy during 1964-2014, identified from the Swedish National Patient Register, and in 35 092 matched individuals.

RESULTS

Reconstruction with ileoanal pouch anastomosis [IPAA] was as common as ileorectal anastomosis [IRA] in ulcerative colitis [UC] and IBD-unclassified [IBD-U] but rare in Crohn's disease [CD]. Compared with the matched reference cohort, women with IBD had lower fertility overall after colectomy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.65, confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.69), with least impact with leaving the rectum intact [HR 0.79, CI 0.70-0.90]. Compared with colectomy only, fertility in female patients remained unaffected after IRA [HR 0.86, CI 0.63-1.17 for UC, 0.86, CI 0.68-1.08 for IBD-U and 1.07, CI 0.70-1.63 for CD], but was impaired after IPAA, especially in UC [HR 0.67, CI 0.50-0.88], and after completion proctectomy [HR 0.65, CI 0.49-0.85 for UC, 0.68, CI 0.55-0.85 for IBD-U and 0.61, CI 0.38-0.96 for CD]. In men, fertility was marginally reduced following colectomy [HR 0.89, CI 0.85-0.94], regardless of reconstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

Fertility was reduced in women after colectomy for IBD. The least impact was seen when a deviated rectum was left intact. IRA was associated with no further reduction in fertility, whereas proctectomy and IPAA were associated with the strongest impairment. IRA therefore seems to be the preferred reconstruction to preserve fertility in selected female patients. Fertility in men was only moderately reduced after colectomy.

Population outcomes, trends and the future of pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis: a 19-year New South Wales data linkage study

BACKGROUND

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is considered the gold standard reconstructive option in ulcerative colitis (UC). Recent efforts to improve pouch outcomes have seen a push towards centralisation of surgery. This study aimed to document outcomes following pouch surgery at a population level within New South Wales (NSW), and identify factors associated with, and temporal trends of these outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective data linkage study of the NSW population over a 19-year period was performed. The primary outcome was pouch failure in patients with UC who underwent IPAA. The influence of hospital level factors (including annual volume) and patient demographic variables on this outcome were assessed using Cox proportional hazards modelling. Temporal trends in annual volume and evidence for centralisation over the studied period were assessed using Poisson regression analysis.

RESULTS

The annual volume of UC pouches reduced over the study period. The pouch failure rates were 8.6% (95% CI 6.3-10.8%) and 10.6% (95% CI 8.0-13.1%) at 5- and 10-years, respectively. Increasing age and non-elective admission were associated with higher failure rates. One-third of UC pouches (31.6%) were performed in a single institution, which averaged 6.5 pouches/year throughout the study period. Three-quarters (19/25) of NSW public hospitals who performed pouches performed less than one UC pouch annually.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes following UC pouch surgery in NSW are comparable with global standards. Concentrating IBD pouch surgery with the aim of producing specialist surgical teams may be a reasonable way forward in NSW and would ensure equity of access and facilitate research and training collaboration.

Primary Versus Staged Reconstruction and Risk of Surgical Failure in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: a Nation-wide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Restorative surgery after colectomy due to ulcerative colitis (UC) may be performed simultaneously with colectomy (primary) or as a staged procedure. Risk factors for failure after restorative surgery are not fully explored. This study aimed to compare the risk of failure after primary and staged reconstruction.

METHODS

This is a national register-based cohort study of all patients 15 to 69 years old in Sweden treated with colectomy due to UC and who received an ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) between 1997 and 2017. Failure was defined as a reoperation with new ileostomy after restorative surgery or a remaining defunctioning ileostomy after 2 years. Risk of failure was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression adjusted for sex, age, calendar period, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and duration of UC.

RESULTS

Of 2172 included patients, 843 (38.8%) underwent primary reconstruction, and 1329 (61.2%) staged reconstruction. Staged reconstruction was associated with a decreased risk of failure compared with primary reconstruction (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.91). The 10-year cumulative risk of failure was 15% vs 20% after staged and primary reconstruction, respectively. In all, 1141 patients (52.5%) received an IPAA and 1031 (47.5%) an IRA. In stratified multivariable models, staged reconstruction was more successful than primary reconstruction in both IRA (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.54-1.04) and IPAA (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.52-1.01), although risk estimates failed to attain statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

In UC patients undergoing colectomy, postponing restorative surgery may decrease the risk of failure.

Restorative Surgery Is More Common in Ulcerative Colitis Patients With a High Income: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

To avoid a permanent stoma, restorative surgery is performed after the colectomy. Previous studies have shown that less than half of patients with ulcerative colitis undergo restorative surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim was to explore the association between socioeconomic status and restorative surgery after colectomy.

DESIGN

This was a nationwide register-based cohort study.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted in Sweden.

PATIENTS

All Swedish patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent colectomy between 1990 and 2017 at the age of 15 to 69 years were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome was restorative surgery, and the secondary outcome was failure of the reconstruction (defined as the need for a new ileostomy after the reconstruction or nonreversal of a defunctioning stoma within 2 years of the reconstruction). To calculate HRs for restorative surgery after colectomy, as well as failure after restorative surgery, multivariable Cox regression models were performed (adjusted for sex, year of colectomy, colorectal cancer diagnosis, education, civil status, country of birth, income (quartiles 1 to 4, where Q4 represents highest income), hospital volume, and stratified by age).

RESULTS

In all, 5969 patients with ulcerative colitis underwent colectomy, and of those, 2794 (46.8%) underwent restorative surgery. Restorative surgery was more common in patients with a high income at the time of colectomy (quartile 1, reference; quartile 2, 1.09 (0.98-1.21); quartile 3, 1.20 (1.07-1.34); quartile 4, 1.27 (1.13-1.43)) and less common in those born in a Nordic country than in immigrants born in a non-Nordic country (0.86 (0.74-0.99)), whereas no association was seen with educational level and civil status. There was no association between socioeconomic status and the risk of failure after restorative surgery.

LIMITATIONS

The study was restricted to register data.

CONCLUSIONS

Restorative surgery in ulcerative colitis appears to be more common in patients with a high income and patients born in a non-Nordic country, indicating inequality in the provided care. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B433.

LA CIRUGA RESTAURADORA ES MS COMN EN PACIENTES CON COLITIS ULCEROSA CON INGRESOS ALTOS UN ESTUDIO POBLACIONAL

ANTECEDENTES:Para evitar un estoma permanente, se realiza una cirugía reparadora después de la colectomía. Estudios anteriores han demostrado que menos de la mitad de los pacientes con colitis ulcerosa se someten a cirugía reconstituyente.OBJETIVO:El objetivo principal fue explorar la asociación entre el nivel socioeconómico y la cirugía reconstituyente después de la colectomía.DISEÑO:Estudio de cohorte basado en registros a nivel nacional.MARCO:Suecia.PACIENTES:Todos los pacientes Suecos con colitis ulcerosa que se sometieron a colectomía desde el 1990 a 2017 a la edad de 15 a 69 años.MEDIDAS DE RESULTADOS PRINCIPALES:El resultado principal fue la cirugía restaurativa y el resultado secundario fue el fracaso de la reconstrucción (definida como la necesidad de una nueva ileostomía después de la reconstrucción o la no-reversión de un estoma disfuncional dentro de los dos años posteriores a la reconstrucción). Para calcular los cocientes de riesgo para la cirugía restauradora después de la colectomía, así como el fracaso después de la cirugía restauradora, se realizaron modelos de regresión de Cox multivariables (ajustados por sexo, año de colectomía, diagnóstico de cáncer colorrectal, educación, estado civil, país de nacimiento e ingresos (cuartiles 1- 4; donde Q4 representa los mayores ingresos), volumen de hospitales y estratificado por edad).RESULTADOS:En total 5969 pacientes con colitis ulcerosa se sometieron a colectomía, y de ellos 2794 (46,8%) se sometieron a cirugía restauradora. La cirugía restauradora fue más común en pacientes con altos ingresos en el momento de la colectomía (referencia del cuartil 1, cuartil 2: 1,09 (0,98-1,21), cuartil 3: 1,20 (1,07-1,34), cuartil 4: 1,27 (1,13-1,43)), y menos común en los nacidos en un país nórdico que en los inmigrantes nacidos en un país no-nórdico (0,86 (0,74-0,99)), mientras que no se observó asociación con el nivel educativo y el estado civil. No hubo asociación entre el nivel socioeconómico y el riesgo de fracaso después de la cirugía reparadora.LIMITACIONES:Restricción para registrar datos.CONCLUSIONES:La cirugía reparadora en colitis ulcerosa parece ser más común en pacientes con ingresos altos y en pacientes nacidos en un país no-nórdico, lo que indica desigualdad en la atención brindada. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B433.

Twenty years of restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis in Beaumont Hospital

INTRODUCTION

An ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the treatment of choice in selected patients to restore intestinal continuity following proctocolectomy. Data on IPAA in the Republic of Ireland is lacking, and surgery for IPAA has evolved over time. The aim of this retrospective study was to report our institutional outcomes from IPAA over a 20-year period.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively collated from consecutive primary IPAA cases between 1998 and 2017 at Beaumont Hospital. Patient demographics and operative approach were examined, and pouch failure was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients underwent IPAA over the study period with a mean follow-up of 9.4 ± 5.6 years. The mean age at IPAA was 35.9 ± 10.0 years, and 58.9% were male. The majority were performed in 3 stages (78.9%), were performed to treat ulcerative colitis (66.3%), were of a J-pouch configuration (96.8%), and had a stapled anastomosis (70.5%). On follow-up, 28.4% reported experiencing at least 1 episode of pouchitis and the 10-year pouch failure rate was 14%. In the last decile of the study period, the mean number of IPAA performed per year increased to 10.5 ± 2.1 (P = 0.013), the age of IPAA formation reduced (P = 0.049), and the proportion completed in a minimally invasive manner increased (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptable long-term outcomes were observed by our institution. A recent increase in institutional volume, reduction in patient age, and increase in the proportion of cases performed laparoscopically have been identified.

Restorative surgery after colectomy for ulcerative colitis in England and Sweden: observations from a comparison of nationwide cohorts

AIM

A longstanding disparity exists between the approaches to restorative surgery after colectomy for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in England and Sweden. This study aims to compare rates of colectomy and restorative surgery in comparable national cohorts.

METHOD

The English Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) were interrogated between 2002 and April 2012. Patients with two diagnostic episodes for UC (age ≥ 15 years) were included. Patients were excluded if they had an episode of inflammatory bowel disease or colectomy before 2002. The cumulative incidences of colectomy and restorative surgery were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

A total of 98 691 patients were included in the study, 76 129 in England and 22 562 in Sweden. The 5-year cumulative incidence of all restorative surgery after colectomy in England was 33% vs 46% in Sweden (P-value < 0.001). Of the patients undergoing restorative surgery, 92.3% of English patients had a pouch vs 38.8% in Sweden and 7.7% vs 59.1% respectively had an ileorectal anastomosis (IRA). The 5-year cumulative incidence of colectomy in this study cohort was 13% in England and 6% in Sweden (P-value < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Following colectomy for UC only one-third of English patients and half of Swedish patients underwent restorative surgery. In England nearly all these patients underwent pouches, in Sweden a less significant majority underwent IRAs. It is surprising to demonstrate this discrepancy in a comparable cohort of patients from similar healthcare systems. The causes and consequences of this international variation in management are not fully understood and require further investigation.

Pouch functional outcomes after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal-pouch reconstruction in patients with ulcerative colitis: Japanese multi-center nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Although several complications capable of causing pouch failure may develop after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) for ulcerative colitis (UC), the incidences and causes are conflicting and vary according to country, race and institution. To avoid pouch failure, this study aimed to evaluate the rate of pouch failure and its risk factors in UC patients over the past decade via a nationwide cohort study.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, observational, multicenter study that included 13 institutions in Japan. Patients who underwent RPC between January 2005 and December 2014 were included. The characteristics and backgrounds of the patients before and during surgery and their postoperative courses and complications were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 2376 patients were evaluated over 6.7 ± 3.5 years of follow-up. Twenty-seven non-functional pouches were observed, and the functional pouch rate was 98.9% after RPC. Anastomotic leakage (odds ratio, 9.1) was selected as a risk factor for a non-functional pouch. The cumulative pouch failure rate was 4.2%/10 years. A change in diagnosis to Crohn's disease/indeterminate colitis (hazard ratio, 13.2) was identified as an independent risk factor for pouch failure.

CONCLUSION

The significant risk factor for a non-functional pouch was anastomotic leakage. The optimal staged surgical procedure should be selected according to a patient's condition to avoid anastomotic failure during RPC. Changes in diagnosis after RPC confer a substantial risk of pouch failure. Additional cohort studies are needed to obtain an understanding of the long-standing clinical course of and proper treatment for pouch failure.

Restorative Surgery in Patients With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Ulcerative Colitis Following a Colectomy

BACKGROUND

Studies on surgical procedures in patients with concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have mainly been restricted to single centers. The aim was to compare surgical treatment of UC with or without PSC in a nationwide study.

METHODS

A cohort study including all patients diagnosed with UC between 1987 and 2014 in Sweden was undertaken. The impact of PSC on the risk of colectomy, the chance of restorative surgery, and risk of failure (presence of a stoma) following restorative surgery were estimated. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Of 49 882 UC patients, 2079 had a PSC diagnosis at the end of follow-up. The risk of colectomy was unaffected by PSC diagnosis, whereas the chance of restorative surgery was elevated in PSC-UC patients (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.44). Ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) was performed in 63% of the PSC-UC patients and 43% of the non-PSC-UC-patients, and the corresponding numbers for ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) were 35% and 53%. There was no significantly increased risk of failure following restorative surgery in PSC patients (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.93-2.22). In PSC-UC patients, the cumulative failure rates following an IRA at 3 and 5 years were 15% and 18%, and following an IPAA they were 11% and 18%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of PSC is not associated with the risk of colectomy, whereas the chance of restorative surgery in PSC-UC patients is higher than in UC alone.

Pouch failures following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis

AIM

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a procedure offered to patients with ulcerative colitis who opt for restoration of bowel continuity. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of pouch failure and ascertain the risk factors associated with failure.

METHOD

The study included 1991 patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in Denmark in the period 1980-2013. Pouch failure was defined as excision of the pouch or presence of an unreversed stoma within 1 year after its creation. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to explore the association between pouch failure and age, gender, synchronous colectomy, primary faecal diversion, annual hospital volume (very low, 1-5 cases per year; low, 6-10; intermediate 11-20; high > 20), calendar year, laparoscopy and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

RESULTS

Over a median 11.4 years, 295 failures occurred, corresponding to 5-, 10- and 20-year cumulative risks of 9.1%, 12.1% and 18.2%, respectively. The risk of failure was higher for women [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.75]. Primary non-diversion (aHR 1.63, 95% CI 1.11-2.41) and a low hospital volume (aHR, very low volume vs high volume 2.30, 95% CI 1.26-4.20) were also associated with a higher risk of failure. The risk of failure was not associated with calendar year, primary sclerosing cholangitis, synchronous colectomy or laparoscopy.

CONCLUSION

In a cohort of patients from Denmark (where pouch surgery is centralized) with ulcerative colitis and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, women had a higher risk of pouch failure. Of modifiable factors, low hospital volume and non-diversion were associated with a higher risk of pouch failure.

Survival of ileal pouch anal anastomosis constructed after colectomy or secondary to a previous ileorectal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis patients: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) affects bowel function, sexual function and reproduction less negatively than ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), the standard reconstruction after colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC). In younger UC patients, IRA may have a role postponing pelvic surgery and IPAA. The aim of the present study was to investigate the survival of IPAA secondary to IRA compared to IPAA as primary reconstruction, as this has not previously been studied in UC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients with UC diagnosis between 1960 and 2010 in Sweden were identified from the National Patient Registry. From this cohort, colectomized patients reconstructed with primary IPAA and patients reconstructed with IPAA secondary to IRA were identified. The survival of the IPAA was followed up until pouch failure, defined as pouchectomy and ileostomy or a diverting ileostomy alone.

RESULTS

Out of 63,796 patients, 1796 were reconstructed with IPAA, either primarily (n = 1720) or secondary to a previous IRA (n = 76). There were no demographic differences between the groups, including length of follow-up (median 12.6 (IQR 6.7-16.6) years and 10.0 (IQR 3.5-15.9) years, respectively). Failure of the IPAA occurred in 103 (6.0%) patients with primary and in 6 (8%) patients after secondary IPAA (P = 0.38 log-rank). The 10-year pouch survival was 94% (95% CI 93-96) for primary IPAA and 92% (81-97) for secondary.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients choosing IRA as primary reconstruction do not have an increased risk of failure of a later secondary IPAA in comparison with patients with primary IPAA.