A European Survey on Digestive Perianastomotic Ulcerations, a Rare Crohn-like Disorder Occurring in Children and Young Adults

Whole Foods Introduction Associated With Symptomatic Anastomotic Ulceration in Children With Short Bowel Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Anastomotic ulceration (AU) is a rare but life-threatening complication of pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS). AUs may be challenging to detect and refractory to treatment. This study aimed to identify features associated with symptomatic bleeding AUs in children with SBS and factors that may impact resolution of bleeding. The relationship between dietary changes and symptomatic anastomotic hemorrhage was also explored.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 381 patients cared for in the Intestinal Rehabilitation Program at our center from 2013 to 2022. Patients with symptomatic AUs were identified based on at least 1 endoscopic procedure showing AUs and evidence of clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding. We collected patient demographics, clinical characteristics, dietary history, radiologic imaging, and histopathology. We used descriptive statistics to identify patterns of presentation.

RESULTS

AUs were identified in 22 patients who were followed for a median duration of 2.9 years after anastomotic ulcer identification. AUs uniformly evolved years after the initial anastomosis (median 3.2 years). Characteristics included bowel stricture (4/22), small bowel-colon anastomosis (19/22), partial colectomy (17/22), and an increase in whole foods fraction (12/18). Bleeding resolved with operative intervention in the majority with anastomotic stricture (3/4). Recurrent bleeding was common in those without stricture (13/18). In a subset of patients without stricture, whole food reduction was associated with improvement or resolution of bleeding (5/6).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a higher proportion of patients with AUs who responded to surgical intervention in the subset of children with definitive anastomotic strictures versus those without, suggesting that careful characterization of intestinal anatomy may be critical to predicting response to therapy. We also observed that bleeding from AU typically first manifested within 1 year of a shift from elemental or hydrolyzed enteral formula to a whole food-based diet (including commercial blenderized feeds), which may indicate that components of the enteral diet play a role in the pathogenesis of AU. Further studies are needed to validate these hypotheses.

Idiopathic Ileal Ulceration After Intestinal Transplantation

Background

Idiopathic ileal ulceration after intestinal transplantation (ITx) has been discussed infrequently and has an uncertain natural history and relation to graft rejection. Herein, we review our experience with this pathology.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 225 ITx in 217 patients with minimum 1 y graft survival. Routine graft endoscopy was conducted up to twice weekly within the first 90 d after ITx, gradually decreasing to once yearly. Risks for ulceration over time were evaluated using Cox regression.

Results

Of 93 (41%) patients with ulcers, 50 were found within 90 d after ITx mostly via ileoscopy; delayed healing after biopsy appeared causal in the majority. Of the remaining 43 patients with ulcers found >90 d after ITx, 36 were after ileostomy closure. Multivariable modeling demonstrated within 90-d ulcer associations with increasing patient age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.027; P < 0.001) and loop ileostomy (versus Santulli ileostomy; HR, 0.271; P < 0.001). For ulcers appearing after ileostomy closure, their sole association was with absence of graft colon (HR, 7.232; P < 0.001). For ulcers requiring extended anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory therapy, associations included de novo donor-specific antibodies (HR, 3.222; P < 0.007) and nucleotide oligomerization domain mutations (HR, 2.772; P < 0.016). Whole-cohort post-ITx ulceration was not associated with either graft rejection (P = 0.161) or graft failure (P = 0.410).

Conclusions

Idiopathic ulceration after ITx is relatively common but has little independent influence on outcome; risks include ileostomy construction, colon-free ITx, immunologic mutation, and donor sensitization.

A unicentric cross-sectional observational study on chronic intestinal inflammation in total colonic aganglionosis: beware of an underestimated condition

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are known to occur in association with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). Most of cases are represented by Crohn Disease (CD) occurring in patients with Total Colonic Aganglionosis (TCSA) with an estimated prevalence of around 2%. Based on these considerations and on a number of provisional data belonging to our Center for Digestive Diseases, we developed a unicentric cross-sectional observational study aimed at describing phenotype, genotype, pathology and metagenomics of all patients with TCSA and Crohn-like lesions.

RESULTS

Out of a series of 62 eligible TCSA patients, 48 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Ten patients did not complete the study due to non-compliance or withdrawal of consent and were subsequently dropped out. A total of 38 patients completed the study. All patients were tested for chronic intestinal inflammation by a combination of fecal calprotectine (FC) or occult fecal blood (OFB) and underwent fecal metagenomics. Nineteen (50%) tested positive for FC, OFB, or both and subsequently underwent retrograde ileoscopy. Fourteen patients (36.8%) presented Crohn-like lesions, occurring after a median of 11.5 years after surgery (range 8 months - 21.5 years). No statistically significant differences regarding demographic, phenotype and genotype were observed comparing patients with and without lesions, except for need for blood transfusion that was more frequent in those with lesions. Faecal microbiome of patients with lesions (not that of caregivers) was less biodiverse and characterized by a reduction of Bacteroidetes, and an overabundance of Proteobacteria. FC tested negative in 3/14 patients with lesions (21%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated an impressive 10-folds higher incidence of chronic inflammation in TCSA. Up to 50% of patients may develop IBD-like lesions postoperatively. Nonetheless, we failed in identifying specific risk factors to be used to implement prevention strategies. Based on the results of our study, we suggest screening all TCSA patients with retrograde ileoscopy regardless of FC/OFB values. The frequency of endoscopic assessments and the role of FC/OFB screening in prompting endoscopy is yet to be determined.

Nutrition and Intestinal Rehabilitation of Children With Short Bowel Syndrome: A Position Paper of the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. Part 2: Long-Term Follow-Up on Home Parenteral Nutrition

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is the leading cause of intestinal failure (IF) in children. The preferred treatment for IF is parenteral nutrition which may be required until adulthood. The aim of this position paper is to review the available evidence on managing SBS and to provide practical guidance to clinicians dealing with this condition. All members of the Nutrition Committee of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) contributed to this position paper. Some renowned experts in the field joined the team to guide with their expertise. A systematic literature search was performed from 2005 to May 2021 using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. In the absence of evidence, recommendations reflect the expert opinion of the authors. Literature on SBS mainly consists of retrospective single-center experience, thus most of the current papers and recommendations are based on expert opinion. All recommendations were voted on by the expert panel and reached >90% agreement. This second part of the position paper is dedicated to the long-term management of children with SBS-IF. The paper mainly focuses on how to achieve intestinal rehabilitation, treatment of complications, and on possible surgical and medical management to increase intestinal absorption.

Chronic Mucosal Inflammation in Pediatric Intestinal Failure Patients-A Unique Phenomenon

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

As intestinal failure (IF) management improves and long-term survival rate increases, its physiological complications have become more apparent. The development of chronic intestinal inflammation resembling inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in this population has been reported, but the literature describing it in detail is sparse. The present study was designed to characterize children with IF who developed chronic intestinal inflammation and identify the potential predisposing clinical factors.

METHODS

This retrospective study was based on the electronic medical records of pediatric patients seen at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center between January 2000 and July 2022. Demographic and medical history data were collected and compared between children with IF that developed chronic intestinal inflammation and children with IF that did not develop chronic intestinal inflammation.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, 23 children were diagnosed with chronic intestinal inflammation. Of these, 12 (52%) were males, with a median age of 4.5 (3-7) years at diagnosis. Nearly one-third of the patients had gastroschisis (31%), followed by necrotizing enterocolitis (26%), and malrotation and volvulus (21.7%). More children in the chronic intestinal inflammation group lacked an ileocecal valve (ICV) and adjoining distal ileum as compared to the short bowel syndrome (SBS)-IF control group (15 patients, 65% vs 8 patients, 33%). Moreover, more children in the chronic intestinal inflammation group had undergone a prior lengthening procedure than the SBS-IF control group (5 patients, 21.7% vs. 0, respectively).

DISCUSSION

SBS patients are at risk of relatively early onset chronic intestinal inflammation. The absence of an ICV (and adjoin ileum) and prior lengthening procedures emerge as factors associated with the risk of IBD in these patients.

Digestive perianastomotic ulcerations after intestinal resection in children

Digestive perianastomotic ulceration (DPAU) is a rare complication after intestinal resection and anastomosis occurring at or near the anastomosis site. The purpose of this review is to summarize the characteristics of DPAU, including the etiology, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, clinical manifestations, treatment, and future research. All recent literature on DPAU was searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane and then reviewed. The clinical manifestations of DPAU are mainly gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloody stool and chronic anemia. The diagnosis of DPAU is difficult. Specific diseases, such as Crohn's disease, must be ruled out before a diagnosis can be made. In addition, there are no clear treatment guidelines due to the high degree of heterogeneity in response to drugs and surgery. It is recommended to adjust medication in time and combine various treatment methods. In addition, the mechanism that causes DPAU is not well understood; however, several possible mechanisms have been proposed, such as scar tissue ischemia and underlying diseases. Moreover, there is a high risk of relapses, and a long-term follow-up is necessary. Numerous issues remain to be solved in this area; therefore, more randomized controlled trials and studies should be carried out to further understand this disease.