Relation between postoperative ileus and anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection: a post hoc analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial

Postoperative ileus-Establishing a porcine model

BACKGROUND

Postoperative ileus (POI), characterized by absent gastrointestinal motility, is a frequent complication following major abdominal surgery, with no current effective treatment possibilities. For further research in the treatment of this condition, we aimed to establish a porcine model of POI.

METHODS

A total of 12 Landrace pigs, weighing 60 kg, were included. Five animals were used as pilots to establish the surgical procedure, five animals received the same reproducible surgical procedure developed in the pilot experiments, while two animals were used as control. The primary endpoint was number of days to first stool. Intestinal motility was monitored using the SmartPill system.

KEY RESULTS

Four of the five pigs who underwent the final surgical procedure passed first stool on the third postoperative day (POD), and one passed first stool on the fifth POD. SmartPill data showed retention of the capsule in the stomach in four of five pigs with usable traces.

CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES

An experimental porcine model of POI was established, forming the basis for future studies in POI.

Risk factors for anastomotic leakage in colonic procedures within an ERAS-protocol. A retrospective cohort study from the Swedish part of the international ERAS-database

BACKGROUND

Research on anastomotic leakage (AL) in colonic procedures within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol has not yet been conducted. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for AL after colonic surgery.

METHODS

The study included all consecutively recorded patients operated with colonic resection surgery in the Swedish part of the international ERAS® Interactive Audit System (EIAS) between September 2009 and June 2022. The cohort was analyzed and evaluated regarding risk factors for AL.

RESULTS

Altogether 10,632 patients were included, 10,219 were without AL and 413 (3.9%) were with AL. After adjusted analysis, male sex (4.6% AL), OR: 1.49; 95% CI (1.16-1.90), obesity (4.8% AL), OR: 1.62; 95% CI (1.18-2.24), previous surgery (4.4% AL), OR: 1.45; 95% CI (1.14-1.86), open surgery (4.4% AL), OR: 1.36; 95% CI (1.02-1.83), anastomosis between small bowel and rectum (13.1% AL), OR: 3.97; 95% CI (2.23-7.10), stapled anastomosis (5.3% AL), OR: 2.46; 95% CI (1.79-3.38), inhalation anesthesia (4.2% AL), OR: 1.80; 95% CI (1.26-2.57), and conversion to open surgery (5.5% AL), OR 1.49; 95% CI (1.02-2.19) were significant risk factors for AL. Although pre and intraoperative compliance to the ERAS-protocol was similar, excess of fluids day 0 was an independent predictor for AL.

CONCLUSION

Male sex, obesity, previous surgery, open surgery, stapled anastomotic technique, anastomosis between small bowel and rectum, inhalation anesthesia, conversion to open surgery, and among ERAS interventions, excess of fluids day 0, were significant risk factors for AL.

Anastomotic leak in colorectal cancer surgery: Contribution of gut microbiota and prediction approaches

AIM

To monitor prospectively the occurrence of colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) in patients with colon cancer undergoing resectional surgery, characterizing the microbiota in both faeces and mucosal biopsies of anastomosis. In a second stage, we investigated the ability to predict CAL using machine learning models based on clinical data and microbiota composition.

METHOD

A total of 111 patients were included, from whom a faecal sample was obtained, as well as biopsy samples from proximal and distal sites in the healthy margins of the tumour piece. The microorganisms present in the samples were investigated using microbial culture and 16S rDNA massive sequencing. Collagenase and protease production was determined, as well as the presence of genes responsible for expressing enzymes with these activities. Machine learning analyses were developed using clinical and microbiological data.

RESULTS

The incidence of CAL was 9.0%, and CAL was associated with collagenase/protease-producing Enterococcus. Significant differences were found in the microbiota composition of proximal and distal biopsy samples, but not in faecal samples, among patients who developed CAL. Clinical predictors of CAL were 5-day C-reactive protein and heart disease, whereas 3-day C-reactive protein and diabetes were negative predictors.

CONCLUSION

Biopsy samples from surgical margins, rather than faecal samples, are the most appropriate samples for exploring the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to CAL. Enterococci are only enriched in the anastomosis after surgery, and their collagenases and proteases are involved in the degradation of the anastomotic scar.

A clinical nomogram for predicting small bowel obstruction after extubation after radical resection of esophageal cancer and jejunostomy

BACKGROUND

Small bowel obstruction after extubation is among the most serious complications of radical esophageal cancer and jejunostomy resection. This study aimed to explore the risk factors and treatment methods for small bowel obstruction after extubation and construct a predictive model to guide its clinical management.

METHODS

Clinical data for 514 patients who underwent esophagectomy with jejunostomy for esophageal cancer were collected. A nomogram was constructed using the independent risk factors for small bowel obstruction after extubation determined on multivariable logistic regression analysis, and a subgroup analysis was performed of the treatment methods for the 61 patients with small bowel obstruction after extubation.

RESULTS

The nomogram incorporated the independent risk factors for small bowel obstruction after extubation (gastrointestinal function recovery [P < .001], postoperative albumin reduction ratio [P = .009], and serious postoperative complications [P < .001]) in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The final model had an area under the curve of 0.829 (95% confidence interval, 0.775-0.883). The calibration plots demonstrated high concordance between the predicted and actual probabilities. The model demonstrated excellent discriminatory power for internal and time validation, with adjusted C-statistics of 0.821 and 0.810 (95% confidence interval, 0.686-0.933), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, an abnormal anion gap (P = .016) and low serum albumin level (P = .005) were associated with recurrent small bowel obstruction. The model's area under the curve was 0.815 (95% confidence interval, 0.683-0.948). The probability of recurrence among patients with small bowel obstruction after extubation was 78.3% when the 2 risk factors were present.

CONCLUSION

The clinical nomogram based on small bowel obstruction after extubation predictors recommends aggressive surgical intervention for patients with small bowel obstruction after extubation and an abnormal anion gap and low serum albumin level at admission.

Nomogram for predicting the probability of permanent stoma in patients with acute obstructive colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Acute obstructive colorectal cancer is a high-risk emergency among colorectal cancer (CRC). Approximately 20% of CRC patients are associated with a permanent stoma, which greatly affects the lifestyle of patients. This study aimed to investigate risk factors for predicting permanent stoma (PS) in patients with acute obstructive colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical-pathological features of patients with acute obstructive colorectal cancer who underwent treatments from our hospital between January 2015 and December 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the risk factors for predicting PS chances of CRC patients using a nomogram method. Furthermore, the operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to assess the discrimination power of the nomogram. Calibration plot was used to evaluate nomogram's calibration.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients with acute obstructive colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study, including 24 PS patients with permanent stoma and 74 non-PS patients. Multivariate analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR): 1.068, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.006 ~ 1.135, P = 0.032], carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) [OR: 1.015, 95% CI: 1.003 ~ 1.028, P = 0.013], and surgical method [emergency group vs. stent group, OR: 14.066, 95% CI: 3.625 ~ 54.572, p < 0.001] were independent risk factors for PS. These risk factors were incorporated into a nomogram and showed that the AUC of the nomogram was 0.867 (95% CI: 0.782-0.951). The calibration plot got consistent with prediction for PS in the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

Age, CEA, and surgical method were independent risk factors for PS in patients with acute obstructive colorectal cancer. Our nomogram has favorable predictive power for PS in CRC patients.

Anastomotic Leak Rate and Prolonged Postoperative Paralytic Ileus in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery for Colo-Rectal Cancer After Placement of No-Coil Endoanal Tube

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common gastrointestinal tumor in men and the third in women. Left-hemicolectomy (LC) and low anterior resection (LAR) are considered the gold standard curative treatment. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the presence or absence of post-operative complications, in all patients who underwent Video-laparoscopic (VLS) LAR/LC with No Coil trans-anal tube positioning, and compared the data with the current literature on the topic.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with CRC of the descending colon, splenic flexure, sigma, and rectum were recruited. LC was performed for sigmoid and descending colon cancers, while LAR was applied for tumors of the upper two-thirds of the rectum. The No Coil trans-anal tube (SapiMed Spa, Alessandria, Italy) was placed in all patients of the study at the end of surgical treatment.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients received a LAR-VLS (46%) and 21 patients received a LC-VLS (54%). The average length of hospital stay after surgery was 7 days. PPOI occurred in only one in 39 patients (2.6%) who had undergone LAR-VLS. As for complications, in no patient of the study did AL (0%) occur.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing LAR-VLS and LC-VLS, we performed colorectal anastomosis and in the same surgical operation we introduced the No-Coil device. Although this is a preliminary study and subject to further investigation, we believe that the No Coil tube positioning may reduce the time of presence of first flatus and feces and the risk of AL.

Novel surgical procedure for preventing anastomotic leakage following colorectal cancer surgery: A propensity score matching study

Hypoperfusion is the main cause of anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal surgery. The conventional method for evaluating anastomotic perfusion is to observe color change and active bleeding of the resection margin of the intestine and the pulsation of mesenteric vessels. However, the accuracy of this method is low, which may be due to insufficient observation time. A novel surgical procedure that separates the mesentery in advance at the intended transection site can delay the observation of anastomotic perfusion, and can potentially detect more anastomotic sites with insufficient vascular supply and reduce the rate of AL. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a novel surgical procedure on AL following sigmoid colon and rectal cancer surgeries. A total of 343 patients who underwent rectal and sigmoid colon cancer surgeries were included in the study. From August 2021 to June 2022, patients with sigmoid colon or rectal cancer underwent a new surgical procedure of pre-division of the mesentery (PDM) at the intended transection site (PDM group). Patients with colorectal cancer who underwent conventional surgical procedures from August 2018 to July 2021 were categorized as the non-PDM group. Symptomatic AL (SAL) within 30 days and other outcomes were retrospectively analyzed using propensity score matching and compared between the two groups. The incidences of SAL were 1.3% and 11.3% in the PDM and non-PDM groups, respectively. PDM significantly reduced the SAL rate in sigmoid colon and rectal cancer surgeries (P = 0.009). The incidence of total postoperative complications (P < 0.05) was significantly lower in the PDM group than that in the non-PDM group. There were no significant differences between the two groups for operative time (P = 0.662), intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.651), intraoperative blood transfusion (P = 0.316), and intensive care rate (P = 1). The length of postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.010) and first exhaust (P = 0.001) and defecation time (P < 0.05) were shorter in the PDM group than in the non-PDM group. PDM can effectively prevent AL, and this procedure can be safely performed in sigmoid colon and rectal cancer surgeries.

Postoperative paralytic ileus following debulking surgery in ovarian cancer patients

Aim

This study aims to evaluate the incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) following cytoreductive surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and its impact on anastomotic leakage occurrence and postoperative complications.

Methods

A total of 357 surgeries were performed on 346 ovarian cancer patients between 1/2010 and 12/2020 at our institution. The postoperative course regarding paralytic ileus, anastomotic leakage, and postoperative complications was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and through ordinal logistic regression.

Results

A total of 233 patients (65.3%) returned to normal gastrointestinal functions within 3 days after surgery. A total of 123 patients (34.5%) developed POI. There were 199 anastomoses in 165 patients and 24 leakages (12.1%). Postoperative antibiotics (p 0.001), stoma creation (p 0.0001), and early start of laxatives (p 0.0048) significantly decreased POI, while anastomoses in general (p 0.0465) and especially low anastomoses (p 0.0143) showed increased POI rates. Intraoperative positive fluid excess >5,000 cc was associated with a higher risk for POI (p 0.0063), anastomotic leakage (p 0.0254), and severe complications (p 0.0012).

Conclusion

Postoperative antibiotics, an early start with laxatives, and stoma creation were associated with reduced POI rates. Patients with anastomoses showed an increased risk for POI. Severe complications, anastomotic leakages, and POI were more common in the case of intraoperative fluid balance exceeding 5,000 cc.

IL-1-dependent enteric gliosis guides intestinal inflammation and dysmotility and modulates macrophage function

Muscularis Externa Macrophages (ME-Macs) and enteric glial cells (EGCs) are closely associated cell types in the bowel wall, and important interactions are thought to occur between them during intestinal inflammation. They are involved in developing postoperative ileus (POI), an acute, surgery-induced inflammatory disorder triggered by IL-1 receptor type I (IL1R1)-signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that IL1R1-signaling in murine and human EGCs induces a reactive state, named enteric gliosis, characterized by a strong induction of distinct chemokines, cytokines, and the colony-stimulating factors 1 and 3. Ribosomal tagging revealed enteric gliosis as an early part of POI pathogenesis, and mice with an EGC-restricted IL1R1-deficiency failed to develop postoperative enteric gliosis, showed diminished immune cell infiltration, and were protected from POI. Furthermore, the IL1R1-deficiency in EGCs altered the surgery-induced glial activation state and reduced phagocytosis in macrophages, as well as their migration and accumulation around enteric ganglia. In patients, bowel surgery also induced IL-1-signaling, key molecules of enteric gliosis, and macrophage activation. Together, our data show that IL1R1-signaling triggers enteric gliosis, which results in ME-Mac activation and the development of POI. Intervention in this pathway might be a useful prophylactic strategy in preventing such motility disorders and gut inflammation.

Emerging Paradigms in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection: The Patient Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance

This article summarizes new scientific evidence on the pathogenesis of surgical site infection, including the roles of the patient microbiome and antimicrobial resistance, and reviews changes in guidelines and clinical practices for prevention.

A comparison of extracorporeal side to side or end to side anastomosis following a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate whether an extracorporeal side‐to‐side (SS) or end‐to‐side (ES) stapled anastomosis impacts short‐term and long‐term outcomes after an oncological laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from two Victorian tertiary referral hospitals was performed. Patients who underwent oncological resection for colorectal cancer between February 2010 and September 2020 were selected from the colorectal neoplasia database. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the type of stapled anastomosis: Group 1 (functional end‐to‐end/side‐to‐side (SS)); and Group 2 (end‐to‐side (ES)). Primary outcomes were anastomotic leak, postoperative ileus, mortality and morbidity, length of stay post‐surgery, readmission to hospital, and 30‐day mortality.

Results

This large case series of 1040 patients (SS = 625, ES = 415) demonstrated that the type of stapling technique impacted operative duration and postoperative ileus rates. Patients in the SS group had a faster operation of 108 min rather than 130 min in the ES group (p < 0.001). The SS group were more likely to experience a post‐operative ileus (p < 0.001) with no impact on length of stay (SS, 7 days versus ES, 7 days; p = 0.14). There were no differences between the two groups with respect to lymph node yield, lymph node ratio, anastomotic leaks, return to theatre, 30‐day mortality and 5‐year overall survival.

Discussion

The type of extracorporeal stapled anastomosis following an oncological laparoscopic right hemicolectomy has minimal impact on morbidity and survival outcomes; however, a side‐to‐side stapled anastomosis is more likely to be a faster operation with a higher postoperative ileus rate.

Post-operative ileus: definitions, mechanisms and controversies

Post-operative ileus (POI) is a syndrome of impaired gastrointestinal transit which occurs following abdominal surgery. There are few effective targeted therapies for ileus, and research has been limited by inconsistent definitions and an incomplete understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Despite considerable effort, there remains no widely-adopted definition of ileus, and recent work has identified variation in outcome reporting is a major source of heterogeneity in clinical trials. Outcomes should be clearly-defined, clinically-relevant, and reflective of the underlying biology, impacts on hospital resources and quality of life. Further collaborative efforts will be needed to develop consensus definitions and a core outcome set for postoperative gastrointestinal recovery. Investigation into the pathophysiology of POI has been hindered by use of low-resolution techniques and difficulties linking cellular mechanisms to dysmotility patterns and clinical symptoms. Recent evidence has suggested the common assumption of post-operative GI paralysis is incorrect, and that the distal colon becomes hyperactive following surgery. The post-operative inflammatory response is important in the pathophysiology of ileus, but the time course of this in humans remains unclear, with the majority of evidence coming from animal models. Future work should investigate dysmotility patterns underlying ileus, and identify biomarkers which may be used to diagnose, monitor and stratify patients with ileus.

The importance of rectal contrast in CT assessment to detect anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery

AIM

Computed tomography (CT) is currently the diagnostic tool most often used to detect anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of rectal contrast.

METHOD

All patients who underwent colorectal surgery with a primary anastomosis between 2009 and 2018 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients who underwent postoperative CT scanning in suspicion of AL were included. The clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with and without rectal contrast were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 1183 patient records were reviewed; 225 patients underwent CT-abdomen in suspicion of AL. Of these patients, 175 (77.8%) received rectal contrast. Sensitivity and specificity in this group were 78% and 94%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.78 and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.94. In the group without rectal contrast (n = 50), sensitivity was 47%, specificity 88%, PPV 0.66 and NPV 0.76. In patients who received rectal contrast, contrast reached the anastomosis in 81.7% compared with 26.0% in patients who were given only oral contrast (p < 0.001). The sensitivity increased to 93% in the group of patients with contrast at the anastomosis, the specificity to 97%, the PPV to 0.88 and the NPV to 0.98. No adverse events were observed after the use of rectal contrast.

CONCLUSION

The use of rectal contrast led to a significant increase in the predictive value of CT scanning for AL, especially when it reached the anastomosis. This suggests that rectal contrast is a safe and useful adjunct to CT-abdomen in the detection of AL.

Relationships between serum electrolyte concentrations and ileus: A joint clinical and mathematical modeling study

Aim

Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) occurs in around 15% of patients after major abdominal surgery, posing a significant clinical and economic burden. Significant fluid and electrolyte changes may occur peri‐operatively, potentially contributing to PPOI; however, this association has not been clearly elucidated. A joint clinical‐theoretical study was undertaken to evaluate peri‐operative electrolyte concentration trends, their association with ileus, and predicted impact on bioelectrical slow waves in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC).

Methods

Data were prospectively collected from 327 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Analyses were performed to determine associations between peri‐operative electrolyte concentrations and prolonged ileus. Biophysically based ICC and SMC mathematical models were adapted to evaluate the theoretical impacts of extracellular electrolyte concentrations on cellular function.

Results

Postoperative day (POD) 1 calcium and POD 3 chloride, sodium were lower in the PPOI group (p < 0.05), and POD3 potassium was higher in the PPOI group (p < 0.05). Deficits beyond the reference range in PPOI patients were most notable for sodium (Day 3: 29.5% ileus vs. 18.5% no ileus, p = 0.04). Models demonstrated an 8.6% reduction in slow‐wave frequency following the measured reduction in extracellular NaCl on POD5, with associated changes in cellular slow‐wave morphology and amplitude.

Conclusion

Low serum sodium and chloride concentrations are associated with PPOI. Electrolyte abnormalities are unlikely to be a primary mechanism of ileus, but their pronounced effects on cellular electrophysiology predicted by modeling suggest these abnormalities may adversely impact motility recovery. Resolution and correction of electrolyte abnormalities in ileus may be clinically relevant.

It's not just an ileus: disparities associated with ileus following ventral hernia repair

PURPOSE

We sought to identify risk factors associated with postoperative ileus following ventral hernia repair.

METHODS

Utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2008 to 2012, we identified adult patients that underwent either open or laparoscopic hernia repair for umbilical and ventral hernias with a diagnosis of umbilical/ventral hernia. We excluded cases with diagnosis of obstruction and bowel gangrene that underwent bowel resection, or with missing data. Risk variables of interest were age, sex, race, income status, insurance status, elective admission, comorbidity status (using the validated van Walraven Score), complications (mechanical, respiratory, postoperative infection, cardiovascular, intraoperative), morbid obesity, procedure type, conversion to open, mesh use, hospital type (rural, urban non-teaching, urban teaching), bed size, and region (northeast, midwest, south, west). Univariate analysis comparing patients with ileus vs control was performed. We then performed multivariable analysis using logistic regression, adjusting for all the risk variables, with ileus as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

30,912 patients were identified that met criteria. Of these, 2660 (8.61%) had postoperative ileus during their stay at the hospital. Univariate analysis showed all risk variables were associated with development of ileus with the exception of income status (p = 0.2903), elective admission (p = 0.7989), mesh use (p = 0.3620), and hospital bed size (p = 0.08351). Median length of stay was 7 days in the ileus cohort vs 3 days in control (p < 0.0001). Median total charges (adjusted to 2012 dollars) was $54,819 vs $35,058 (p < 0.0001). We then performed logistic regression adjusting for all risk variables and found that age (OR 1.66, p < 0.0001), male sex (OR 1.51, p < 0.0001), Black race (OR 1.49, p < 0.0001), comorbidity status (OR 1.12, p < 0.0001), laparoscopic cases converted to open (OR 1.55, p < 0.0001), postoperative complications (mechanical: OR 2.32, p < 0.0001, respiratory: OR 1.54, p < 0.0001, postoperative infection: OR 2.12, p < 0.0001, cardiovascular: OR 1.57, p = 0.0006, intraoperative: OR 1.29, p = 0.0200) were independently associated with increased risk of ileus. However, laparoscopic vs open (OR 0.76, p < 0.0001), elective admission (OR 0.91, p = 0.0378), and northeast vs south hospital region (OR 0.74, p < 0.0001) were independently associated with decreased risk of ileus.

CONCLUSION

We performed a large observational study looking for risk factors associated with ileus following ventral hernia repair. Race and region of treatment are independent risk factors associated with ileus following ventral hernia repair, and a potential source of disparities in care and increased admission length and higher cost of care. Further prospective studies are warranted.

Gastrointestinal motility has more of an impact on postoperative recovery than you might expect

PURPOSE

While patient's reported autonomy (PRA) may help the physician to adapt the day of discharge, the link between postoperative ileus and length of stay and PRA is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of the PRA score during the postoperative period and to determine the factors possibly influencing such an evolution.

METHODS

This retrospective study on a prospective database took place in a single centre over 14 months. PRA was defined by the by using part I of the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale known as activity of daily life [from 9 (best) to 45 (worst)].

RESULTS

Among the 101 patients operated on for elective or emergent colorectal surgery, 80% of the patients had recovered their preoperative PRA (±5 points) before discharge and maintained their PRA during the 2 days preceding discharge. While PRA was significantly decreased by surgery (P<0.0001), each postoperative day allowed for its progressive recovery. Interestingly, the day of recovery of GI transit was associated with a significant increase of PRA (-6.96 points, P<0.0001). Despite high variability of baseline autonomy level, patients presented very similar recovery processes, which were represented by very low slope variability in the linear mixed model. Laparoscopy reduced the decrease of postoperative PRA (P=0.03) while ASA score>2 increased PRA (P=0.03). Age, emergency surgery and the occurrence of postoperative morbidity did not affect postoperative autonomy. Finally, enhanced recovery programs (ERP) tended to improve postoperative autonomy recovery (P=0.09).

CONCLUSION

PRA may be used as a means of optimising a patient's day of discharge following colorectal surgery.

Surgical complications in colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic sciences have allowed early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly reported cancers, particularly in elderly patients.

METHODS

Open and laparoscopic surgeries are used for the removal of the tumor, along with chemotherapy, depending on the stage of cancer. However, colorectal cancer surgery is associated with a great number of complications, that affect the efficacy of the surgery and overall health and survival of the patient.

RESULTS

Prevalence of these complications have shown discrepancies depending on the condition of the patient and disease and surgical skills of the surgeon. Preoperative evaluation, intraoperative care and postoperative measures can reduce the incidence of these complications.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights some frequently reported complications associated with colorectal cancer surgery, their risk factors and subsequent therapeutic measures to treat them.

Colonic Electromechanical Abnormalities Underlying Post-operative Ileus: A Systematic and Critical Review

Post-operative ileus (POI) is an inevitable consequence of major abdominal surgery, and may be prolonged in up to 30% of patients. Ileus is commonly presumed to result from paralysis of the GI tract, though there is little direct evidence to support this view. The aim of this review is to systematically search and critically review the literature investigating post-operative colonic electrical and mechanical activity. MEDLINE and Embase databases were systematically searched for articles investigating post-operative colonic motor or electrical activity in human patients. Nineteen original articles investigating post-operative colonic motor or electrical activity were identified. Most studies have used low-resolution techniques, with intermittent recordings of colonic motility. Numerous studies have shown that colonic electrical and motor activity does not cease routinely following surgery, but is of abnormal character for 3–6 days following laparotomy. One recent high-resolution manometry study identified hyperactive cyclic motor patterns occurring in the distal colon on the first post-operative day. Low-resolution studies have shown colonic slow waves are not inhibited by surgery, and are present even in the immediate post-operative period. Recovery of normal motility appears to occur in a proximal to distal direction and is temporally correlated with the clinical return of bowel function. No studies have investigated motility specifically in prolonged POI. Future studies should use high-resolution techniques to accurately characterise abnormalities in electrical and mechanical function underlying POI, and correlate these changes with clinical recovery of bowel function.

Postoperative ileus concealing intra-abdominal complications in enhanced recovery programs-a retrospective analysis of the GRACE database

PURPOSE

Postoperative ileus (POI) occurrence within enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) has decreased. Also, intra-abdominal complications (IAC) such as anastomotic leakage (AL) generally present late. The aim was to characterize the link between POI and the other complications occurring after surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis of a prospective database was conducted by the Francophone Group for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery. POI was considered to be present if gastrointestinal functions had not been recovered within 3 days following surgery or if a nasogastric tube replacement was required.

RESULTS

Of the 2773 patients who took part in the study, 2335 underwent colorectal resections (83.8%) for cancer, benign tumors, inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticulosis. Among the 2335 patients, 309 (13.2%) experienced POI, including 185 (59.9%) cases of secondary POI. Adjusted for well-known risk factors (male gender, need for stoma, right hemicolectomy, surgery duration, laparotomy, and conversion to open surgery), POI was associated with abdominal complications (OR = 4.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.30-6.28), urinary retention (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.05-2.92), pulmonary complications (OR = 4.55; 95% CI: 2.04-9.97), and cardiological complications (OR = 3.01; 95% CI: 1.15-8.02). Among the abdominal complications, AL and IAC were most strongly associated with POI (respectively, OR = 5.97; 95% CI: 3.74-8.88 and OR = 5.76; 95% CI: 3.56-10.62).

CONCLUSION

Within ERPs, POI should not be considered as usual. There is a significant link between POI and IAC. Since POI is an early-onset clinical sign, its occurrence should alert the physician and prompt them to consider performing CT scans in order to investigate other potential morbidities.

Electrical Stimulation and Recovery of Gastrointestinal Function Following Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative ileus occurs in approximately 5-15% of patients following major abdominal surgery, and poses a substantial clinical and economic burden. Electrical stimulation has been proposed as a means to aid postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) recovery, but no methods have entered routine clinical practice. A systematic review was undertaken to assess electrical stimulation techniques and to evaluate their clinical efficacy in order to identify promising areas for future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature was searched using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and by assessing relevant clinical trial databases. Studies investigating the use of electrical stimulation for postoperative GI recovery were included, regardless of methods used or outcomes measured. A critical review was constructed encompassing all included studies and evaluating and synthesizing stimulation techniques, protocols, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A broad range of neuromodulation strategies and protocols were identified and assessed. Improved postoperative GI recovery following electrical stimulation was reported by 55% of studies (10/18), most commonly those assessing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and electroacupuncture therapy (7/10). Several studies reported shorter time to first flatus and stool, shorter duration of hospital stay, and reduced postoperative pain. However, inconsistent reporting and limitations in trial design were common, compromising a definitive determination of electrical stimulation efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Electrical stimulation appears to be a promising methodology to aid postoperative GI recovery, but greater attention to mechanisms of action and clinical trial quality is necessary for progress. Future research should also aim to apply validated and standardized gut recovery outcomes and consistent neuromodulation methodologies.

Perioperative Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation to Reduce Postoperative Ileus After Colorectal Resection: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative ileus involves an inflammatory pathway characterized by an increase of inflammation mediators in the colon wall; this could probably be prevented by sacral nerve neuromodulation. The posterior tibial nerve can be stimulated electrically to mimic neuromodulation.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation in reducing the delay in GI motility recovery, to assess the safety of posterior tibial nerve stimulation in a perioperative setting, and to assess the efficacy of posterior tibial nerve stimulation in reducing the occurrence of postoperative ileus.

DESIGN

This was a preliminary randomized controlled study.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted in 1 academic hospital in France.

PATIENTS

Forty patients undergoing an elective colectomy were included and randomly assigned into 2 groups, posterior tibial nerve stimulation or placebo, according to the side of colectomy and the surgical access size.

INTERVENTION

Perioperative posterior tibial nerve stimulation or placebo was performed 3 times per day according to the randomly assigned group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Delay in GI motility recovery (passage of stool and tolerance of solid food) was measured.

RESULTS

Of the 40 patients included, 34 were included in the final analysis, in which 2 patients in the placebo group were allocated the incorrect device. The 6 other patients were secondarily excluded because of protocol deviation. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the mean delay in GI motility recovery was 3.6 and 3.11 days (in the placebo and tibial nerve stimulation groups; p = 0.60). Occurrence of postoperative ileus was not significantly higher in the placebo group (35.3% vs 17.6%; p = 0.42). In the per-protocol analysis, we observed the same trends except for the occurrence of postoperative ileus, which was significantly higher in the placebo group (p = 0.045). Tolerance to posterior tibial nerve stimulation was good, and all of the patients completed the protocol.

LIMITATIONS

The amplitude of stimulation is set according to patient sensation, so some patients could have been aware of their group. In addition there were some inherent limitations because of the preliminary nature of the study and several deviations from the protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior tibial nerve stimulation was safe in a perioperative setting and had a potential effect on GI motility recovery. The results of this study will be useful for sample size calculations in a larger prospective randomized trial. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A708.

Nutritional interventions to improve recovery from postoperative ileus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Postoperative ileus (POI) is an important contributor to postoperative morbidity. However, postoperative outcomes have improved by enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs. Enteral nutrition is an essential part of ERAS and many studies suggest a therapeutic effect of nutrition on POI.

RECENT FINDINGS

Early postoperative enteral nutrition has been shown to reduce various complications, including POI, although studies are heterogeneous. Experimental studies suggest that composition and timing of the enteral feed is important for the potential beneficial effects: lipid-enriched nutrition given just before, during, and directly after surgery was most effective in reducing POI in an experimental setting. In a clinical study in patients undergoing advanced rectal cancer surgery, direct start of enteral tube feeding reduced POI. Conversely, perioperative lipid-enriched enteral nutrition did not reduce POI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery with an ERAS protocol.

SUMMARY

POI is common and remains an important determinant of postoperative recovery following colorectal surgery. Nutrition is a potential therapeutic means to reduce POI. Timing and composition of the enteral feed have been shown to be essential for the beneficial effects of enteral nutrition in an experimental setup. However perioperative lipid-enriched nutrition does not reduce POI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery with an ERAS protocol.

Multicentre observational study of gastrointestinal recovery after elective colorectal surgery

AIM

Postoperative ileus (POI) is characterised by delayed gastrointestinal recovery and is common after colorectal surgery. Numerous strategies to optimise POI have been proposed but its management remains an unmet clinical need. This study aimed to characterise the duration and management of gastrointestinal recovery in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

METHOD

A snapshot, prospective, observational study was undertaken between November 2016 and January 2017 at 10 regional hospitals in the United Kingdom. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with resection of bowel or reversal of stoma were included. Outcomes included time until return of gastrointestinal function, timing of nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion, uptake of targeted interventions and clinical outcomes. Data were validated for accuracy by independent investigators.

RESULTS

204 patients met the eligibility criteria. The median time for gastrointestinal recovery was 3 days (IQR 2-4); right-sided resections were associated with longer gastrointestinal recovery than left sided (4 days (2.75-5.25) vs 3 days (2-4); P = 0.002). The rate of NGT insertion was 22.5% at a median time of 4 (4-4.75) days. NGT insertion after vomiting was associated with a higher incidence of bronchopneumonia compared to early placement (13.3% vs 29.0%). Targeted interventions, such as chewing gum (4.4%), selective mu-receptor antagonists (1.0%) and pro-kinetic agents (13.7%) were infrequently used.

CONCLUSION

The average time to gastrointestinal recovery after elective colorectal surgery was three days. Late NGT insertion was associated with an increased incidence of bronchopneumonia. The clinical uptake of targeted interventions to improve gastrointestinal recovery was poor.

Postoperative ileus following major colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Postoperative ileus (POI) is characterized by delayed gastrointestinal recovery following surgery. Current knowledge of pathophysiology, clinical interventions and methodological challenges was reviewed to inform modern practice and future research.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE and Embase databases was performed using search terms related to ileus and colorectal surgery. All RCTs involving an intervention to prevent or reduce POI published between 1990 and 2016 were identified. Grey literature, non-full-text manuscripts, and reanalyses of previous RCTs were excluded. Eligible articles were assessed using the Cochrane tool for assessing risk of bias.

RESULTS

Of 5614 studies screened, 86 eligible articles describing 88 RCTs were identified. Current knowledge of pathophysiology acknowledges neurogenic, inflammatory and pharmacological mechanisms, but much of the evidence arises from animal studies. The most common interventions tested were chewing gum (11 trials) and early enteral feeding (11), which are safe but of unclear benefit for actively reducing POI. Others, including thoracic epidural analgesia (8), systemic lidocaine (8) and peripheral μ antagonists (5), show benefit but require further investigation for safety and cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

POI is a common condition with no established definition, aetiology or treatment. According to current literature, minimally invasive surgery, protocol-driven recovery (including early feeding and opioid avoidance strategies) and measures to avoid major inflammatory events (such as anastomotic leak) offer the best chances of reducing POI.