Colorectal Anastomotic Strictures: Treatment by Fluoroscopic Double Balloon Dilation

Risk factors for the failure of endoscopic balloon dilation to manage anastomotic stricture from colorectal surgery: retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

An anastomotic stricture after colorectal surgery is principally managed by endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). Although this intervention is effective, however, subsequent procedures or surgical interventions are often required. This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of EBD for anastomotic stricture arising from colorectal cancer surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed 173 patients who received curative surgery for colorectal cancer at our hospital between January 2000 and December 2022 and had undergone EBD to manage anastomotic stricture. The medical records of these cases were retrospectively reviewed to assess the outcomes and risk factors for restenosis and permanent stoma.

RESULTS

Of the 173 study patients, 41 (23.7%) presented with restenosis with a median time to recurrence of 49 [37-150] days. The restenosis group was significantly younger (55.6 years versus 60.8 years), with a more prominent rectal location (80.5% versus 57.6%), a higher incidence of hand-sewn anastomosis (24.4% versus 5.3%), and a higher percentage of neoadjuvant radiotherapy (34.1% versus 5.3%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis indicated neoadjuvant radiotherapy (adjusted HR 2.48; 95% CI 1.03-5.95) and cerebral vascular disease (adjusted HR 6.97; 95% CI 2.15-22.54) as independent prognostic factors for restenosis. Fourteen patients (8.1%) required a permanent stoma due to treatment failure. All cases needing a permanent stoma were male (14 patients, 100%, P = 0.007) and this group had a higher rate of neoadjuvant radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and hand-sewn anastomosis.

CONCLUSION

Patients receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy are most prone to restenosis after an EBD intervention to manage an anastomotic stricture. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy is also a strong risk factor for requiring a permanent stomas due to treatment failure.

Management of benign anastomotic strictures following rectal resection: a systematic review

AIM

Benign anastomotic strictures following colorectal surgical resection are a commonly under-reported complication in up to 30% of patients, with a significant impact upon quality of life. In this systematic review, we aim to assess the utility of endoscopic techniques in avoiding the need for surgical reintervention.

METHOD

A literature search was performed for published full text articles using the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases. Additional papers were found by scanning the references of relevant papers.

RESULTS

A total of 34 papers were included, focusing upon balloon dilatation, endoscopic stenting, electroincision, stapler stricturoplasty and cortiocosteroids alone and in combination, with success rates varying from 20% to 100%. The most challenging strictures were reported as those with a narrow lumen, frequently observed following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or an anastomotic leak. Endoscopic balloon dilatation was the most commonly used first-line method; however, repeated dilatations were often required and this was associated with an increased risk of perforation. Although initial success rates for stents were good, patients often experienced stent migration and local symptoms. Only a small number of patients experienced endoscopic management failure and progressed to surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

Following identification of an anastomotic stricture and exclusion of underlying malignancy, endoscopic management is both safe and feasible as a first-line option, even if multiple treatment exposures or multimodal management is required. Surgical resection or a defunctioning stoma should be reserved for emergency or failed cases. Further research is required into multimodal and novel therapies to improve quality of life for these patients.

Endoscopic stricturotomy in the treatment of anastomotic strictures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and non-IBD patients

Backgrounds

Endoscopic stricturotomy (ESt) has been shown to be effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated anastomotic strictures. However, the outcome of ESt in benign, non-IBD conditions has not been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of ESt in the management of IBD and non-IBD-associated strictures.

Methods

Data of all consecutive IBD and non-IBD patients with benign anastomotic strictures treated with ESt from 2009 to 2016 were extracted. The primary outcomes were surgery-free survival and procedure-related complications.

Results

A total of 49 IBD and 15 non-IBD patients were included in this study. The IBD group included 25 patients with Crohn’s disease and 24 with ulcerative colitis and ileal pouches. Underlying diseases in the non-IBD group included colorectal cancer (n = 7), diverticulitis (n = 5), large bowel prolapse (n = 2), and constipation (n = 1). Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients in both groups. Bleeding complications occurred on five occasions (4.7% per procedure) in the IBD group, while no complication occurred in the non-IBD group (P = 0.20). Stricture improvement on follow-up endoscopy was found in 10 (20.4%) and 5 (33.3%) patients in the IBD and non-IBD groups, respectively (P = 0.32). Six (12.2%) patients in the IBD group and four (26.7%) patients in the non-IBD group eventually required stricture-related surgery (P = 0.23). IBD patients appeared to have a higher tendency for maintaining surgery-free after the procedure than non-IBD patients (P = 0.08).

Conclusions

Endoscopic stricturotomy was shown to have comparable outcomes, though non-IBD patients seem to have a higher need for subsequent surgery but a lower complication rate than IBD patients.

Radial incision and cutting method using a transanal approach for treatment of anastomotic strictures following rectal cancer surgery: a case report

Background

Development of an anastomotic stricture following rectal cancer surgery is not uncommon. Such strictures are usually managed by manual or instrumental dilatation techniques that are often insufficiently effective, as evidenced by the high recurrence rate. Various surgical procedures using minimally invasive approaches have also been reported. One of these procedures, endoscopic radial incision and cutting (RIC), has been extensively reported. However, RIC by transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is yet to be reported. We here report a novel application of TAMIS for performing RIC for anastomotic rectal stenosis.

Case presentation

A 67-year-old man had suffered from constipation for 6 years after undergoing low anterior resection for stage II rectal cancer 7 years ago. Colonoscopy showed a 1-cm diameter stricture in the lower rectum. Balloon dilatation was performed many times because of repeated recurrences. Thus, surgical management was considered and the stricture was successfully excised via a RIC method using a TAMIS approach. Postoperatively, the patient had minimal leakage that resolved with conservative treatment.

Conclusions

A RIC method using a TAMIS approach is an effective minimally invasive means of managing anastomotic strictures following rectal cancer surgery.

Biodegradable Stents: An Evolution in Management of Benign Intestinal Strictures

Benign intestine strictures secondary to postoperative narrowing or inflammatory bowel disease can be managed surgically or conservatively. Some patients may not be suitable surgical candidates and some patients may choose not to have repeat surgery. Biodegradable (BD) stents offer a prolonged dilatory effect before gradual degradation and obviates the need of a second procedure for stent removal. BD stents have high technical success rates (mean, 94.4%; median, 100%; range, 86% to 100%) but widely variable clinical success rates (range, 45% to 100%). Stent migration is the most commonly reported complication (mean, 22.2%; range, 0% to 36%). In the future, with better understanding of the factors contributing to stent migration, improvement in present stent design and better anchoring techniques, the stent migration rate is expected to decrease and improve clinical outcome. The role of prophylactic BD stent placement to prevent stricture development postintestine surgery is an intriguing idea and needs to be explored. As of now, the use of BD stents is a reasonable option for patients with dilatation resistant intestinal strictures who are unfit for surgery or refuse to have surgical treatment.

Clinical efficacy of endoscopic treatment for benign colorectal stricture: balloon dilatation versus stenting

BACKGROUND/AIMS

There has been a lack of research comparing balloon dilatation and self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement to determine which is better for long-term clinical outcomes in patients with benign colorectal strictures. We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and complication rates of balloon dilatation and SEMS placement for benign colorectal strictures from a variety of causes.

METHODS

Between January 1999 and January 2012, a total of 43 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic treatment for benign colorectal stricture (balloon only in 29 patients, SEMS only in seven patients, and both procedures in seven patients) were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients underwent endoscopic balloon dilatation, representing 65 individual sessions, and 14 patients received a total of 17 SEMS placements. The initial clinical success rates were similar in both groups (balloon vs SEMS, 89.1% vs 87.5%). Although the reobstruction rates were similar in both groups (balloon vs SEMS, 54.4% vs. 57.1%), the duration of patency was significantly longer in the balloon dilatation group compared with the SEMS group (65.5±13.3 months vs. 2.0±0.6 months, p=0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic balloon dilatation is safe and effective as an initial treatment for benign colorectal stricture and as an alternative treatment for recurrent strictures.

Comparable short- and long-term outcomes of colonoscopic balloon dilation of Crohn's Disease and benign non-Crohn's Disease strictures

BACKGROUND

The response of Crohn's disease (CD) stricture to endoscopic therapy compared with non-CD stricture is unknown. Our aim was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of endoscopic management of those strictures.

METHODS

All eligible patients with benign non-CD strictures who underwent the endoscopic balloon dilation between January 2002 and September 2013 were included. Patients with CD strictures were randomly selected with a ratio (CD versus non-CD strictures) of 2:1.

RESULTS

A total of 90 patients were included, including 30 (33.3%) with non-CD strictures and 60 (66.7%) with CD strictures. Patients with CD strictures were younger than those with non-CD strictures at the time of disease diagnosis (25.8 ± 11.1 versus 50.5 ± 17.5; P < 0.001) and at the time of the first dilation (43.9 ± 12.4 versus 55.8 ± 13.9; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in characteristics of strictures and their endoscopic treatments between the CD and non-CD groups, except for the percentage of patients who were ever treated with intralesional corticosteroid injection (25.0% versus 6.7%, P = 0.046). Patients in the 2 groups had similar technical success rates (94.0% versus 93.9%, P = 1.00). Few patients in CD stricture group required emergency room visits due to obstructive symptoms from recurrence of disease (1.7% versus 16.7%, P = 0.02). There were on procedure-related complications in either of the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation in the treatment of CD and non-CD strictures seemed to be comparable.

Self-expandable metal stents in the treatment of benign anastomotic stricture after rectal resection for cancer

AIM

To evaluate the use of self-expandable metallic stents to treat patients with symptomatic benign anastomotic stricture after colorectal resection.

METHOD

Ten patients with a benign symptomatic anastomotic stricture after colorectal resection were treated with endoscopic placement of a self-expandable metal stent.

RESULTS

The stent was placed successfully in all 10 patients without any major morbidity. At a mean follow-up of 18 months the stenosis was resolved successfully in 7 out 10 patients (70%). The remaining three patients were subsequently treated successfully with balloon dilatation.

CONCLUSION

Self-expandable metal stents represent a valid alternative to balloon dilatation to treat patients with benign symptomatic anastomotic stricture after colorectal resection for cancer.

Treatment of anastomotic stenosis and leakage after colorectal resection for cancer with self-expandable metal stents

BACKGROUND

Self-expandable metallic stents can be used to treat patients with symptomatic anastomotic complications after colorectal resection.

METHODS

Twenty patients with symptomatic anastomotic stricture after colorectal resection were treated with endoscopic placement of a self-expandable metal stent. Ten patients had "simple" anastomotic stricture. In the remaining 10 patients, a leak was associated with the stricture.

RESULTS

The anastomotic leakage healed without evidence of residual stricture or major fecal incontinence in 8 of 10 patients. Overall, the anastomotic stricture was resolved in 14 of the 20 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-expandable metal stents represent a valid adjunctive to treat patients with symptomatic anastomotic complications after colorectal resection for cancer. They have a complementary role to balloon dilatation in case of simple anastomotic stricture, and they improve the rate of healing when the stricture is associated with a leak.

Complications of colorectal anastomoses: leaks, strictures, and bleeding

Intestinal anastomosis is an essential part of surgical practice, and with it comes the inherent risk of complications including leaks, strictures, and bleeding, which result in significant morbidity and occasional mortality. Understanding the myriad of risk factors and the strength of the data helps guide a surgeon as to the safety of undertaking an operation in which a primary anastomosis is to be considered. This article reviews the risk factors, management, and outcomes associated with anastomotic complications.

Balloon dilatation of benign rectal anastomotic strictures -- a review

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of anastomotic stricture at the level of the rectum gives rise to three broad therapeutic options, namely major pelvic and abdominal revisional surgery, faecal diversion (stoma), or local revision by transanal approaches (including endoscopic and fluoroscopic). This article updates the current evidence and focuses on the results of the balloon dilatation technique.

METHODS

A Medline search was carried out using the search terms (dilatation OR dilatation) AND (stricture OR strictures OR stenosis OR stenotic) AND (rectum OR rectal). In an effort to lessen publication bias, articles included at least 10 patients who were consecutively referred for treatment.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION

This review would suggest that probably relatively short strictures have been chosen for balloon dilatation and that the results have had a very low major morbidity (0.45%) and mortality (0%) rate.

Safe and effective treatment of colorectal anastomotic stricture using a well-defined balloon dilation protocol

PURPOSE

To present a well-defined protocol for balloon dilation for colorectal anastomotic strictures and evaluate clinical efficacy of the dilation in 42 patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From October 1999 to June 2010, 42 patients (32 males and 10 females with mean age 52.1 years ± 16.3) with surgical colorectal anastomotic strictures who received transanal balloon dilation using a well-defined protocol were retrospectively investigated. After the procedure, a water-soluble contrast media study was performed to detect possible complications. Stricture diameter was measured 1 month after balloon dilation. Clinical outcomes and recurrence were evaluated with a median follow-up period of 63.7 months.

RESULTS

There were 47 dilation sessions performed in 42 patients. Technical success and clinical success were achieved in all patients. At long-term follow-up, 36 (85.7%) patients had complete improvement. No complications were observed in any patients. Stricture diameter 1 month after the procedure was 8.85 cm ± 3.23, which was a significant increase over stricture diameter before the procedure of 5.89 cm ± 2.64 (P < .001), showing increase in diameter by 50.3%. Four (9.5%) patients experienced symptomatic recurrence. Stricture diameter of the patients with recurrence was considerably larger than stricture diameter of other patients (P = .036).

CONCLUSIONS

Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation using the protocol described is safe and clinically effective for treatment of colorectal anastomotic stricture.

Balloon dilation and intralesional steroid for benign rectal stricture management in a cat

A 4-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair presented for 1 week of constipation and tenesmus. A rectal stricture had been diagnosed 8 months prior at the time of adoption and the cat had been successfully managed with stool softeners until presentation. A complete diagnostic work-up failed to reveal an underlying etiology for the stricture and colonoscopy was performed. Endoscopic biopsies of the stricture revealed benign non-specific inflammatory changes. Balloon dilation of the rectal stricture was performed during the initial colonoscopy and 3 and 9 days later. Triamcinolone acetonide was injected into the stricture site with endoscopic guidance during the third dilation procedure. The patient has been monitored for over 27 months; follow-up indicates no signs of tenesmus and repeated rectal examinations reveal no stricture recurrence. This case report demonstrates that endoscopic balloon dilation with intralesional steroid injection represented a minimally invasive and effective option for the treatment of a benign rectal stricture in this cat, and deserves further prospective investigation.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation of benign anastomotic strictures after oncologic anterior rectal resection: report on 24 cases

Colorectal anastomotic benign strictures represent a challenging complication. Endoscopic dilation represents a valid and safe treatment. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively investigate the results of endoscopic balloon dilation for anastomotic stricture after anterior rectal resection for cancer in an institution. Twenty-four symptomatic patients with benign colorectal anastomotic stricture were treated between April 2001 and January 2005. All patients underwent dilation using through-the-scope balloon technique. The success of dilation, the number of sessions required, complications, recurrence, and the relationship between the number of dilation sessions and recurrence were assessed. Dilation was successful in 22 (91.7%) patients. There were no procedure-related complications. The mean number of sessions required was 2.3. There was no relationship between the number of dilation sessions and stricture recurrence. Through-the-scope dilation is effective and safe for benign colorectal anastomotic strictures after anterior resection. There was no relationship between the number of dilation sessions and recurrence.

Dual interventional approach of endoscopic reboring in completely stenosed rectal anastomosis using radiology guidance: a novel technique

OBJECTIVE

Rectal stricture/stenosis is a well-recognized complication following anterior resection. Completely stenosed rectal anastomoses have been conventionally treated conservatively with permanent stoma. The surgical alternatives are either a redo low resection with its accompanying hazards or formation of a permanent colostomy. We describe a simple method of treating anastomotic stenoses using a novel technique in patients with a defunctioned bowel.

METHOD

Three patients with complete stenosis of a rectal anastomosis following anterior resection underwent this novel technique with informed consent. A stenosis with no identifiable lumen was diagnosed at the time of examination under anaesthetic (EUA) or by contrast enema. Using a novel technique of combined endoscopic and radiology guidance, the anastomotic stenosis was rebored and subsequently dilated to restore bowel continuity.

RESULTS

There were no complications observed following this procedure. Two of the three patients needed repeat endoscopic dilatation. All patients had restoration of the lumen in the anastomosis and subsequently underwent closure of ileostomy and made an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

Combined endoscopic dilatation under radiological guidance is a novel technique and appears to be a simple, safe, effective and inexpensive method for treating rectal anastomotic stenoses.

Esophageal achalasia: comparison of fluoroscopically-guided double vs. endoscopically-guided single balloon dilation

PURPOSE

To compare the long-term clinical effectiveness of fluoroscopically guided double and endoscopically guided single balloon dilations in esophageal achalasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two fluoroscopically guided balloon dilations were performed in 21 patients (group A) and 48 endoscopically guided balloon dilations were performed in 37 patients (group B). The double balloon dilation technique (10 + 20-mm, 15 + 20-mm or 20 + 20-mm in diameter), with preceding single balloon dilation (10, 15, or 20-mm in diameter), was used in group A, whereas the single balloon dilation technique (30, 35, or 40-mm in diameter) with gradually increased internal pressure was used in group B. Technical success, clinical success, complications, and primary/secondary patency rates were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All procedures were technically successful without esophageal perforation. Clinical success was achieved in 97% (31/32) and 92% (44/48) of balloon dilations in groups A and B, respectively. The symptomatic improvement in dysphagia was significantly higher in group A than in group B. Incidence of complications was the same (18.8%) in both groups. Group A showed significantly longer primary and secondary patency periods than did group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Fluoroscopically guided double balloon dilation has greater long-term effectiveness than endoscopically guided single balloon dilation in the treatment of esophageal achalasia.

Dilation of benign strictures in the esophagus and colon with the polyflex stent: a case series study

Polyflex, a new self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS), is increasingly used to treat obstructions in the gastrointestinal tract. The majority of reports on Polyflex come from tertiary referral centers. This retrospective study describes the efficacy and safety of this new SEPS for the treatment of benign strictures in esophagus and colon and its use in a community hospital. Seven patients were treated from August 2003 through December 2006. All of them presented with severe strictures, and were treated with Polyflex insertion. Four patients had esophageal obstructions (three peptic, one postoperative) and the remaining three patients had postoperative strictures in the rectosigmoid. One patient had a coexisting fistula. Two strictures (one esophageal and another colonic, both postoperative) received the Polyflex as the first line of treatment, without previous sessions of dilation. Esophageal strictures were solved after several consecutive SEPS insertions. Migrated stents were easily extracted from the stomach. On the other hand, colonic strictures achieved permanent dilation with a single stent. The patient with coexisting stricture and fistula became asymptomatic and still had the SEPS in place after four months. The one complication was mild pain after insertion. Polyflex seems to be a useful tool in the dilation of severe benign strictures in esophagus and rectosigmoid and, as in large centers, good results are achieved in a community hospital.

Long-term quality of life after endoscopic dilation of strictured colorectal or colocolonic anastomoses

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic balloon dilation is the first-line treatment for benign colorectal anastomotic strictures. We aimed to objectively assess its long-term results.

METHODS

Gastrointestinal symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at long-term after balloon dilation of anastomotic strictures in 31 consecutive patients (excluding those with inflammatory bowel disease) as well as and controls, using the validated Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). Most colectomies had been performed for benign diseases, with anastomoses located at the colorectal junction.

RESULTS

Completed surveys were collected from 81 subjects, including 27 study patients (response rate 87%), 27 surgical controls matched for age, gender, and indication of colectomy, and 27 healthy subjects. At a mean of 3.9 +/- 2.3 years after the first endoscopic balloon-dilation, study patients self-reported significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms than controls; these included frequent and urgent bowel movements, bloating, food restriction (p < or = 0.001, all comparisons), diarrhea, excessive passage of gas through the anus (p < 0.01, all comparisons), constipation, and abdominal pain (p < 0.05, all comparisons). Health-related quality of life was significantly impaired in study patients versus surgical controls and healthy subjects (GIQLI scores, 104 +/- 20, 119 +/- 24, and 121 +/- 16, respectively; p = 0.005). Impaired HRQoL subdimensions included gastrointestinal symptoms (p < 0.001), stress by treatment (p < 0.05), and emotional status (p = 0.08). HRQoL was independent of the delay between stricture dilation and the survey. Follow-up endoscopy (performed in 21/27 [78%] study patients, including the 7 patients with the lowest HRQoL, and 19 [70%] surgical controls) disclosed anastomoses larger than 13 mm in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-related quality of life is significantly impaired at long-term after standard balloon-dilation of benign anastomotic colorectal strictures as a result of gastrointestinal symptoms and stress by treatment. This impairment might be related to the fact that an anastomotic diameter > or = 13 mm, although commonly used to define successful endoscopic treatment, is insufficient to provide long-term symptom relief in some patients, or to other, yet to be identified, factors.