Stoma-less IPAA Is Not Associated With Increased Anastomotic Leak Rate or Long-term Pouch Failure in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis

State of the Art: Pouch Surgery in the 21st Century

BACKGROUND

An ileoanal pouch with IPAA is the preferred method to restore intestinal continuity in patients who require a total proctocolectomy. Pouch surgery has evolved during the past decades thanks to increased experience and research, changes in the medical management of patients who require an ileal pouch, and technological innovations.

OBJECTIVE

To review the main changes in pouch surgery over the past 2 decades, with a focus on staging, minimally invasive and transanal approaches, pouch design, and anastomotic configuration.

RESULTS

The decision on the staging approach depends on the patient's conditions, their indication for surgery, and the risk of anastomotic leak. A minimally invasive approach should be performed whenever feasible, but open surgery still has a role in this technically demanding operation. Transanal IPAA may be performed in experienced centers and may reduce conversion to open surgery in the hostile pelvis. The J-pouch is the easiest, fastest, and most commonly performed design, but other designs may be used when a J-pouch is not feasible. A stapled anastomosis without mucosectomy can be safely performed in the majority of cases, with a low incidence of rectal cuff neoplasia and better functional outcomes than handsewn. Finally, Crohn's disease is not an absolute contraindication to an ileoanal pouch, but pouch failure may be higher compared to other indications.

CONCLUSIONS

Many technical nuances contribute to the success of an ileoanal pouch. The current standard of care is a laparoscopic J-pouch with double-stapled anastomosis, but this should not be seen as a dogma, and the optimal approach and design should be tailored to each patient. See video from symposium.

Modified 2-stage IPAA has similar postoperative complication rates and functional outcomes compared to 3-stage IPAA

INTRODUCTION

Reconstructive ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC) is often created in 3-stages: colectomy ​+ ​ileostomy, proctectomy ​+ ​pouch creation with diverting loop ileostomy, then subsequent ileostomy closure. Modified 2-stage IPAA is without pouch diversion, thus avoiding a third operation. This study compares perioperative complications, quality of life (QOL) and functional outcomes of 3- versus modified 2-stage IPAA.

METHODS

Charts were reviewed for adult UC patients undergoing IPAA between 2010 and 2020. QOL and function were assessed with EQ-5D-3L Quality of Life and Pouch Functional Score questionnaires.

RESULTS

152 patients were identified. 43 modified 2-stage and 109 3-stage IPAA were similar for anastomotic leak (9.3% vs. 1.8%, p ​= ​0.06), SSI (34.9% vs. 29.7%, p ​= ​0.51) and ileus (32.6% vs. 33%, p ​= ​0.96). Modified 2-stage had less bowel obstruction than 3-stage IPAA (7.0% vs. 30.1%, p ​= ​0.006). 92 patients returned questionnaires with similar QOL and pouch function.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative complications, QOL and function are similar for 3-stage IPAA and modified 2-stage IPAA. Modified 2-stage IPAA in select patients is safe and has less postoperative bowel obstruction than 3-stage IPAA.

Prevalence of 'pouch failure' of the ileoanal pouch in ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The ileoanal pouch (IPAA) provides patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) that have not responded to medical therapy an option to retain bowel continuity and defecate without the need for a long-term stoma. Despite good functional outcomes, some pouches fail, requiring permanent diversion, pouchectomy, or a redo pouch. The incidence of pouch failure ranges between 2 and 15% in the literature. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to define the prevalence of pouch failure in patients with UC who have undergone IPAA using population-based studies.

METHODS

We searched Embase, Embase classic and PubMed from 1978 to 31st of May 2021 to identify cross-sectional studies that reported the prevalence of pouch failure in adults (≥ 18 years of age) who underwent IPAA for UC.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies comprising 23,389 patients were analysed. With < 5 years of follow-up, the prevalence of pouch failure was 5% (95%CI 3-10%). With ≥ 5 but < 10 years of follow-up, the prevalence was 5% (95%CI 4-7%). This increased to 9% (95%CI 7-16%) with ≥ 10 years of follow-up. The overall prevalence of pouch failure was 6% (95%CI 5-8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall prevalence of pouch failure in patients over the age of 18 who have undergone restorative proctocolectomy in UC is 6%. These data are important for counselling patients considering this operation. Importantly, for those patients with UC being considered for a pouch, their disease course has often resulted in both physical and psychological morbidity and hence providing accurate expectations for these patients is vital.