The ideal ileal-pouch design: a long-term randomized control trial of J- vs W-pouch construction

Indications, modalities, and outcomes of surgery for ulcerative colitis in 2024

Treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been revolutionized by the arrival of biotherapies and technical progress in interventional endoscopy and surgery. (Sub)total emergency colectomy is required in the event of complicated severe acute colitis: colectasis, perforation, hemorrhage, organ failure. Corticosteroid therapy is the reference treatment for uncomplicated severe acute colitis, while infliximab and ciclosporin are 2nd-line treatments. At each step, before and after each line of treatment failure, surgery should be considered as an option. In cases refractory to medical treatment, the choice between surgery and change in medication must weigh the chronic symptoms associated with the disease against the risks of postoperative complications and functional sequelae inherent to surgery. Detection of dysplastic lesions necessitates chromoendoscopic imaging with multiple biopsies and anatomopathological verification. Endoscopic treatment of these lesions remains reserved for selected patients. These different indications call for multidisciplinary medical-surgical discussion. Total coloproctectomy with ileo-anal anastomosis (TCP-IAA) is the standard surgery, and it holds out hope for healing. Modalities depend on patient characteristics, previous emergency colectomy, and presence of dysplasia. It may be carried out in one, in two modified, or in three phases. The main complications are anastomotic fistula, short-term pouch-related fistula, ileo-anal pouch syndrome, pouchitis and long-term digestive and sexual disorders. For selected cases, an alternative can consist in total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis or permanent terminal ileostomy. The objective of this update is to clarify the indications, modalities, and results of surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis in accordance with the most recent data in the literature.

Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Ileoanal Pouch Surgery: a Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To summarise frequency, type, and heterogeneity of patient-reported outcomes measures [PROMs] in papers reporting on outcomes after ileal pouch anal anastomosis [IPAA].

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of ulcerative colitis [UC] has risen in Western countries, and one in three patients requires surgery. IPAA is a frequently performed procedure for UC, and a lack of standardisation is manifest in reporting outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] despite the clear need for inclusion of PROMs as primary outcomes in IBD trials.

METHODS

Scopus, Pubmed, and Web of Science databases were searched from January 2010 to January 2023 for studies investigating outcomes in IPAA surgery. The primary outcome was the proportion of studies reporting outcomes for IPAA surgery for UC, which included PROMs.

RESULTS

The search identified a total of 8028 studies which, after de-duplication and exclusion, were reduced to 79 articles assessing outcomes after IPAA surgery. In all 44 [55.7%] reported PROMs, with 23 including validated questionnaires and 21 papers using authors' questions, 22 different PROMs were identified, with bowel function as the most investigated item. The majority of studies [67/79, 85%] were retrospective, only 14/79 [18%] were prospective papers and only two were [2.5%] randomised, controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Only half of the papers reviewed used PROMs. The main reported item is bowel function and urogenital, social, and psychological functions are the most neglected. There is lack of standardisation for use of PROMs in IPAA. Complexity of UC and of outcomes after IPAA demands a change in clinical practice and follow-up, given how crucial PROMs are, compared with their non-routine use.

Psychosocial factors associated with j-pouch surgery for patients with IBD: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease: a chronic condition of unclear etiology characterized by inflammation of the small and large intestine. Inflammatory bowel disease is managed with diet, medications, and surgeries, with the most common surgery, recommended to ulcerative colitis patients being j-pouch surgery.

PURPOSE

To assess the current literature concerning psychosocial factors associated with j-pouch surgery for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

A systematic scoping review of the empirical and grey literature was conducted for original research on j-pouch surgery and psychosocial variables. Eight databases were searched: Medline, PsychInfo, CINAHL, EBM Reviews, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, ResearchGate, Prospero, and PrePubMed.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine articles were identified. Many studies (n = 18) adopted a case-series design, and none examined psychosocial interventions. The most popular psychosocial variables assessed were quality of life (n = 34) and those associated with sexual health and functioning (n = 9).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being an established surgical procedure, little research has examined the psychosocial implications of j-pouch surgery. As such, clinicians lack a robust understanding of how this procedure affects patients' psychiatric and social status and adaptive abilities. There is a need for high-quality research utilizing validated measures and rigorous design methodologies with control populations.

Leaks From the Tip of the J-pouch: Diagnosis, Management, and Long-term Pouch Survival

BACKGROUND

The standard of care for surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis is restorative proctocolectomy with ileal J-pouch. Leaks from the tip of the J-pouch are a known complication, but there is a paucity of literature regarding this type of leak.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe the diagnosis, management, and long-term clinical outcomes of leaks from the tip of the J-pouch at our institution.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained pouch registry.

SETTING

This study was conducted at a quaternary IBD referral center.

PATIENTS

Patients included those with ileal J-pouches diagnosed with leaks from the tip of the J-pouch.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main measures of outcomes were pouch salvage rate, type of salvage procedures, and long-term Kaplan-Meier pouch survival.

RESULTS

We identified 74 patients with leaks from the tip of the J-pouch. Pain (68.9%) and pelvic abscess (40.9%) were the most common presentations, whereas 10.8% of patients presented with an acute abdomen. The leak was diagnosed by imaging and/or endoscopy in 74.3% of patients but only discovered during surgical exploration in 25.6% of patients. Some 63.5% of patients were diagnosed only after loop ileostomy closure, whereas 32.4% of patients were diagnosed before ileostomy closure. The most common methods used for diagnosis were pouchoscopy (31.1%) and gastrograffin enema (28.4%). A definitive nonoperative approach was attempted in 48.6% of patients but was successful in only 10.8% of patients overall. Surgical repair was attempted in 89.2% of patients, whereas 4.5% of patients had pouch excision. Salvage operations (n = 63) included sutured or stapled repair of the tip of the J (65%), pouch excision with neo-pouch (25.4%), and pouch disconnection, repair, and reanastomosis (9.5%). Ultimately' 10 patients (13.5%) required pouch excision, yielding an overall 5-year pouch survival rate of 86.3%.

LIMITATIONS

This was a retrospective review; referral bias may limit the generalizability.

CONCLUSIONS

Leaks from the tip of the J-pouch have variable clinical presentations and require a high index of suspicion. Pouch salvage surgery is required in the majority of patients and is associated with a high pouch salvage rate. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/C50 .

FUGAS DEL EXTREMO DE LA BOLSA EN J DIAGNSTICO, MANEJO Y SUPERVIVENCIA A LARGO PLAZO DE LA BOLSA

ANTECEDENTES:El estándar de atención para el tratamiento quirúrgico de la colitis ulcerosa es la proctocolectomía restauradora con bolsa ileal en J. Las fugas del extremo de la bolsa en J son una complicación conocida, pero hay escasez de literatura sobre este tipo de fuga.OBJETIVO:Describir el diagnóstico, manejo y resultados clínicos a largo plazo de las fugas del extremo de la bolsa en J en nuestra institución.DISEÑO:Estudio retrospectivo de registro de bolsa mantenido prospectivamente.ENTORNO CLINICO:Centro de referencia de enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal cuaternaria.PACIENTES:Pacientes con bolsas ileales en J diagnosticadas con fugas del extremo de la J.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE VALORACIÓN:Tasa de rescate de la bolsa, tipo de procedimientos de rescate y supervivencia a largo plazo de la bolsa Kaplan-Meier.RESULTADOS:Identificamos 74 pacientes con fugas del extremo de la bolsa en J. El dolor (68,9%) y el absceso pélvico (40,9%) fueron las presentaciones más comunes, mientras que el 10,8% de los pacientes presentaron abdomen agudo. La fuga se diagnosticó por imagen y/o endoscopia en el 74,3%, pero solo se descubrió durante la exploración quirúrgica en el 25,6%. El 63,5% fueron diagnosticados solo después del cierre de la ileostomía en asa, mientras que el 32,4% lo fueron antes del cierre de la ileostomía. Los métodos más comunes utilizados para el diagnóstico fueron la endoscopia (31,1%) y el enema de gastrografín (28,4%). Se intentó un abordaje no quirúrgico definitivo en el 48,6%, pero tuvo éxito en solo el 10,8% de los pacientes en general. Se intentó la reparación quirúrgica en el 89,2% de los pacientes, mientras que en el 4,5% se realizó la escisión del reservorio. Las operaciones de rescate (n = 63) incluyeron la reparación con sutura o grapas del extremo de la J (65%), la escisión del reservorio con neo-reservorio (25,4%) y la desconexión, reparación y reanastomosis del reservorio (9,5%). Finalmente, 10 (13,5%) pacientes requirieron la escisión de la bolsa, lo que se asocio con una alta tasa de supervivencia general de la bolsa a los 5 años del 86,3%.LIMITACIONES:Revisión retrospectiva; el sesgo de referencia puede limitar la generalización.CONCLUSIONES:Las fugas del extremo de la bolsa en J tienen presentaciones clínicas variables y requieren un alto índice de sospecha. La cirugía de rescate de la bolsa se requiere en la mayoría y se asocia con una alta tasa de rescate de la bolsa. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/C50 . (Traducción- Dr. Ingrid Melo ).

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.

[Ileal pouch after restorative coloproctectomy]

The continuous development of pouch surgery has enabled continence-preserving treatment after coloproctectomy. The ileoanal J‑pouch is nowadays the standard reconstruction after restorative coloproctectomy with excellent functional long-term results. Taking the relative contraindications and a suitable patient selection into consideration, pouch placement can be indicated not only for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis, but also for patients with nonfistular Crohn's disease. Due to a high treatment density with immunosuppressants, the surgical treatment regimen should be subdivided into a multistage procedure, whereby according to current data a modified two-stage procedure should be favored.

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.

ECCO Topical Review Optimising Reporting in Surgery, Endoscopy, and Histopathology

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] requires a lifelong multidisciplinary approach. The quality of medical reporting is crucial in this context. The present topical review addresses the need for optimised reporting in endoscopy, surgery, and histopathology.

METHODS

A consensus expert panel consisting of gastroenterologists, surgeons, and pathologists, convened by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation, performed a systematic literature review. The following topics were covered: in endoscopy: [i] general IBD endoscopy; [ii] disease activity and surveillance; [iii] endoscopy treatment in IBD; in surgery: [iv] medical history with surgical relevance, surgical indication, and strategy; [v] operative approach; [vi] intraoperative disease description; [vii] operative steps; in pathology: [viii] macroscopic assessment and interpretation of resection specimens; [ix] IBD histology, including biopsies, surgical resections, and neoplasia; [x] IBD histology conclusion and report. Statements were developed using a Delphi methodology incorporating two consecutive rounds. Current practice positions were set when ≥ 80% of participants agreed on a recommendation.

RESULTS

Thirty practice positions established a standard terminology for optimal reporting in endoscopy, surgery, and histopathology. Assessment of disease activity, surveillance recommendations, advice to surgeons for operative indication and strategies, including margins and extent of resection, and diagnostic criteria of IBD, as well as guidance for the interpretation of dysplasia and cancer, were handled. A standardised report including a core set of items to include in each specialty report, was defined.

CONCLUSIONS

Interdisciplinary high-quality care requires thorough and standardised reporting across specialties. This topical review offers an actionable framework and practice recommendations to optimise reporting in endoscopy, surgery, and histopathology.

Transanal proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (TaIPAA) for ulcerative colitis: medium term functional outcomes in a single centre

Background

Transanal dissection of the rectum has been recently introduced for ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in UC showing promising results. Thanks to the precise identification of the rectotomy site the risk of long rectal stump is avoided, and a single stapled anastomosis is performed easily. The aim of this study is to analyze our initial experience of transanal proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (TaIPAA), considering postoperative complications and medium-term functional outcomes.

Methods

Our Center has experienced the transanal approach for proctectomy and IPAA since August 2018. All patients underwent Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. Postoperative complications occurring within 30 days after surgery were taken into consideration. Fecal continence, genito-urinary activity and global quality of life at 1 and 6 months after ileostomy reversal have been assessed.

Results

Until March 2019, 8 patients underwent transanal proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (TaIPAA). In all cases the laparoscopic approach was performed during the transabdominal phase; abdominal drainage was never used. At the time of the pouch construction a defunctioning loop ileostomy was created in all patients. Stoma closure was performed in all cases at a median time of 6 months after surgery. Postoperative complications occurred in only one patient, who showed rectal bleeding, not required a re-invertation. There were no cases of anastomotic leakage. Medium-term functional outcomes were determined prospectively using previously validated quality of life questionnaires (Cleveland Global Quality of Life). Fecal incontinence for liquid or solid stool, genitourinary and sexual functions were also investigated, showing comparable results with the literature data.

Conclusions

In our experience, transanal proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis provided good short and medium-term functional results in UC.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing adverse events and functional outcomes of different pouch designs after restorative proctocolectomy

AIM

There is no consensus as to which ileoanal pouch design provides better outcomes after restorative proctocolectomy. This study compares different pouch designs.

METHOD

A systematic review of the literature was performed. A random effects meta-analytical model was used to compare adverse events and functional outcome.

RESULTS

Thirty comparative studies comparing J, W, S and K pouch designs were included. No significant differences were identified between the different pouch designs with regard to anastomotic dehiscence, anastomotic stricture, pelvic sepsis, wound infection, pouch fistula, pouch ischaemia, perioperative haemorrhage, small bowel obstruction, pouchitis and sexual dysfunction. The W and K designs resulted in fewer cases of pouch failure compared with the J and S designs. J pouch construction resulted in a smaller maximum pouch volume compared with W and K pouches. Stool frequency per 24 h and during daytime was higher following a J pouch than W, S or K constructions. The J design resulted in increased faecal urgency and seepage during daytime compared with the K design. The use of protective pads during daytime and night-time was greater with a J pouch compared to S or K. The use of antidiarrhoeal medication was greater after a J reservoir than a W reservoir. Difficulty in pouch evacuation requiring intubation was higher with an S pouch than with W or J pouches.

CONCLUSION

Despite its ease of construction and comparable complication rates, the J pouch is associated with higher pouch failure rates and worse function. Patient characteristics, technical factors and surgical expertise should be considered when choosing pouch design.

[The technique of restorative proctocolectomy with ileal J‑pouch : Standards and controversies]

BACKGROUND

Restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) is the standard of care in the case of medically refractory disease and in neoplasia in ulcerative colitis (UC).

OBJECTIVES

This review aims at providing an overview of the current evidence on standards, innovations, and controversies with regard to the surgical technique of RPC.

RESULTS

RPC is the standard of care in the surgical management of UC refractory to medical treatment and in neoplasia. Due to its simplicity and good functional outcomes, the J‑pouch is the most used pouch design. RPC is usually performed as a two-stage procedure. In the presence of risk factors, a three-stage procedure should be performed. The technically more demanding mucosectomy and hand sewn anastomosis does not seem to result in a better oncologic outcome than stapled anastomosis. Functional results appear marginally better after stapled anastomosis, but the rectal cuff should not exceed 2 cm in this reconstruction. The laparoscopic approach is at least as good as the open approach. For the new, innovative surgical approaches such as robotics and transanal surgery, only feasibility but no advantages have yet been demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

The evidence in regard to controversial points remains limited.

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: A narrative review

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (RP-IPAA) is the gold standard surgical treatment for ulcerative colitis. However, despite the widespread use of RP-IPAA, many aspects of this treatment still remain controversial, such as the approach (open or laparoscopic), number of stages in the surgery, type of pouch, and construction type (hand-sewn or stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis). The present narrative review aims to discuss current evidence on the short-, mid-, and long-term results of each of these technical alternatives as well as their benefits and disadvantages. A review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Ovid databases was performed to identify studies published through March 2016. Few large, randomized, controlled studies have been conducted, which limits the conclusions that can be drawn regarding controversial issues. The available data from retrospective studies suggest that laparoscopic surgery has no clear advantages compared with open surgery and that one-stage RP-IPAA may be indicated in selected cases. Regarding 2- and 3-stage RP-IPAA, patients who underwent these surgeries differed significantly with respect to clinical and laboratory variables, making any comparisons extremely difficult. The long-term results regarding the pouch type show that the W- and J-reservoirs do not differ significantly, although the J pouch is generally preferred by surgeons. Hand-sewn and stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomoses have their own advantages, and there is no clear benefit of one technique over the other.

Early and late surgical outcomes of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis within a defined population in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), has become the procedure of choice in patients requiring reconstructive surgery for ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis. The aim of this population-based study was to present data prospectively registered and retrospectively evaluated on the short-term and the long-term results of 124 consecutive IPAA performed chronologically by three surgeons in a single referral centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent IPAA from 1993 to 2012 were included. Early and late morbidity and mortality were evaluated.

RESULTS

Early complications were observed in 25 patients. There was one death from cardiac failure, high output stoma occurred in six patients and wound infection occurred in four patients. Complications were associated with higher BMI (P=0.032). Four patients had to be reoperated. Peroperative bleeding was reduced when using an ultrasonically activated scalpel for the perimuscular dissection (P<0.00001). Clavien-Dindo grade III-V affected five patients. Only one patient developed anastomotic leak and septic complications.Late complications occurred in 61 patients. There was no procedure-related mortality. Pouchitis was the most common complication (n=37). Primary sclerosing cholangitis and age younger than 40 years were associated significantly with a three- and two-fold increased risk of pouchitis, respectively. Small bowel obstruction was the second most common complication (n=16), more common in women (P=0.031). The pouch failure rate was low: 2.4%. Clavien-Dindo grade III-V affected 13 patients.

CONCLUSION

In the hands of experienced high-volume surgeons, IPAA is a safe procedure associated with a relatively low early morbidity as well as an acceptable late morbidity.

Current management of intestinal bowel disease: the role of surgery

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic affection, in which the two main phenotypical components are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In both diseases, medical treatment has the main role; in some phases of the natural history of IBD, surgery becomes an important therapeutic tool. The IBD represents a model of multidisciplinary management. Timing represents the key issue for proper management of IBD patients. For acute and severe IBD, the surgery can be a salvage procedure. Today, the laparoscopic approach plays an important role in armamentarium of the surgeon. Several articles compared the short- and long-term results between laparoscopic and open approaches in IBD. The aim of this review is to focus the role of surgery in IBD as well as the role of laparoscopic approach, and principally, the "state of the art" for surgical treatment, sometimes very challenging for surgeon, in all clinical features of IBD by a review of literature highlighted by the most recent international guidelines.

Diagnosis and management of pouch outlet obstruction caused by common anatomical problems after restorative proctocolectomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Efferent limb syndrome (ELS) after S pouch and pouch-rectal anastomosis (PRA) after J pouch are common anatomical problems after restorative proctocolectomy that lead to pouch outlet obstruction. This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency, diagnosis and management of ELS and PRA.

METHODS

Consecutive patients diagnosed with ELS or PRA at our Pouch Center from 2002 to 2011 were included. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and radiographic features together with its management and outcomes were studied.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients met the inclusion criteria, 17 (65.4%) were male. Eleven patients (42.3%) had ELS and 15 (57.7%) had PRA. The median length of the efferent limb/rectal stump for all patients was 6.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.0-8.8) cm, 7.0 (IQR: 5.0-9.0) cm and 6.0 (IQR: 5.0-10.5) cm for S and J pouch patients, respectively (P=0.025). Dyschezia (n=15, 57.7%) was the most common presenting symptom, followed by bloating (n=9, 34.6%), abdominal pain (n=9, 34.6%), the sense of incomplete evacuation (n=7, 26.9%) and perianal discomfort (n=3, 11.5%). A greater number of patients in the ELS group had dyschezia compared to the PRA group (90.9% vs. 33.3%, P=0.005). More patients in the ELS group had a sense of incomplete evacuation than those in the PRA group (45.5% vs. 13.3%, P=0.10). Ten patients (90.9%) in the ELS group and 5 patients in the PRA group (33.3%) required surgical intervention (P=0.005). After a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 1.4 years, 7 (87.5%) of the 8 patients, who underwent redo pouch construction with efferent limb/rectal stump excision, maintained a functional pouch.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ELS or PRA often presented with debilitating symptoms. ELS occurred more frequently in S pouch patients than PRA in J pouch patients. Surgical intervention might be needed, especially for the ELS patients.