Quadruple assessment of colorectal anastomoses: a technique to reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage

Intraoperative left-sided colorectal anastomotic testing in clinical practice: a multi-treatment machine-learning analysis of the iCral3 prospective cohort

BACKGROUND

Current evidence about intraoperative anastomotic testing after left-sided colorectal resections is still controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of Indocyanine Green fluorescent angiography (ICG-FA) and air-leak test (ALT) over standard assessment on anastomotic leakage (AL) rates according to surgeon's perception of anastomosis perfusion and/or integrity in clinical practice.

METHODS

A database of 2061 patients who underwent left-sided colorectal resections was selected from patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study. It was retrospectively analyzed through a multi-treatment machine-learning model considering standard visual assessment (NW; No. = 899; 43.6%) as the reference treatment arm, compared to ICG-FA alone (WP; No. = 409; 19.8%), ALT alone (WI; No. = 420; 20.4%) or both (WPI; No. = 333; 16.2%). Twenty-four covariates potentially affecting the outcomes were included and balanced into the model within the subgroups. The primary endpoint was AL, the secondary endpoints were overall morbidity (OM), major morbidity (MM), reoperation for AL, and mortality. All the results were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

RESULTS

The WPI subgroup showed significantly higher AL risk (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.02-3.59; p 0.043), MM risk (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.39-3.97; p 0.001), and reoperation for AL risk (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.12-5.31; p 0.025). No other significant differences were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the surgeons' perception of both anastomotic perfusion and integrity (WPI subgroup) was associated to a significantly higher risk of AL and related morbidity, notwithstanding the extensive use of both ICG-FA and ALT testing.

Quadruple Assessment of Colorectal Anastomosis after Laparoscopic Rectal Resection: A Retrospective Analysis of a Propensity-Matched Cohort

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most feared complications in colorectal surgery, with an incidence of 12-39% and associated risk of mortality of 2-24%. The causes of AL and the ways to prevent it are currently under investigation. This study aims to verify if a quadruple assessment of colorectal anastomosis could reduce AL incidence. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on rectal cancer surgery performed from January 2015 to December 2017 and from January 2021 to December 2023 at a tertiary referral cancer centre was performed. Demographics, clinicopathological features, short-term outcomes, recurrences, and survival were investigated. Results: A total of 293 patients were enrolled. AL incidence was lower in the quadruple assessment group than in the control group, reaching a statistically significant result (7.7% vs. 16%; p = 0.001). This result was also confirmed after a propensity score match analysis (PSM), in which the AL rate was lower in the quadruple assessment group (5.4% vs. 12.3%; p = 0.01). Conclusions: This study shows how the systematic implementation of a quadruple assessment when performing a colorectal anastomosis could increase awareness on anastomotic success and reduce the incidence of AL.

Factors predicting successful resolution and long-term outcomes of benign anastomotic strictures following rectal cancer surgery

AIM

Although advances in treatment have improved sphincter-preservation rates in rectal cancer, the incidence of benign anastomotic strictures has also increased. This retrospective single-institution study sought to determine the incidence of benign anastomotic strictures and the factors associated with their successful resolution following treatment.

METHODOLOGY

From January 2010 to December 2019, consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic dilatation and/or surgery for benign anastomotic strictures developing after radical sphincter-sparing resections for rectal cancer were evaluated. To model the relationship between outcomes and potential independent variables, sequential univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 2069 rectal cancer patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery, benign anastomotic strictures were identified in 110 (5.3%). Mean age was 48.2 ± 13.98 years; 73.6% were male. Distal tumor-extent was within 6 cm of the anal verge in 60%; 80.9% patients received neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Surgical approach in 71.8% was open, 74.5% being anterior or low anterior resections and 70.9% of anastomoses stapled. Covering stoma was performed in 91.8%. On follow-up, strictures of median length 4 cm were identified at median 3 cm from the anal verge. Endoscopic dilatation was offered in 89.1%, whereas 9.1% required redo-surgery. Overall, 49.1% experienced sustained stricture-resolution with dilatation and 45.4% required re-intervention. At last follow-up, 72.7% were stoma-free. On multivariate analysis, good performance status, absence of anastomotic leak, and short-segment strictures predicted successful stricture-resolution.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic dilatation is an effective first-line therapy, with redo anastomosis used to salvage those failing conservative measures. Adverse performance status, anastomotic leak and greater stricture length may predict detrimental outcomes in terms of stricture resolution.

Use of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography during ileal J-pouch surgery requiring lengthening maneuvers

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to review whether routine usage of indocyanine green (ICG) perfusion assessment during complex ileal J-pouch surgery requiring lengthening maneuvers reduces ischemic complications.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) surgery with lengthening maneuvers and intraoperative ICG assessment between January 2015 and January 2021. All patients underwent a double stapled anastomosis and were temporarily diverted. All patients underwent laparoscopic and trans-anal ICG assessment of their J-pouch and anastomosis. All J-pouches were evaluated 6 weeks after surgery via contrast enema and pouchoscopy.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty eight patients underwent ileal J-pouch surgery during the study period. Sixteen patients (10%) underwent lengthening maneuvers and intra-operative ICG assessment. Twelve patients underwent surgery for UC and 4 for FAP. Median age was 40.3 years and average body mass index was 24.9 kg/m². Twelve patients underwent a two-stage procedure and the remaining underwent a three-stage procedure. 93.7% of cases were completed laparoscopically (15/16). All patients underwent scoring of the peritoneum and 43% (7/16) underwent division of the ileocolic or intermediate mesenteric vessels. There was no mortality or pouch ischemia and the leak rate was 12.5%. All patients underwent reversal after an average of 18 ± 7 weeks.

CONCLUSION

ICG perfusion assessment appears to be of utility in complex IPAA surgery requiring lengthening maneuvers. Its application may be associated with reduced J-pouch ischemia and leak rate in this unique setting.

Impact of change in the surgical plan based on indocyanine green fluorescence angiography on the rates of colorectal anastomotic leak: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In the present study, patients with colorectal anastomoses that were assessed with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography (FA) were compared to patients who had only white light visual inspection of their anastomosis. The impact of change in surgical plan guided by ICG-FA on anastomotic leak (AL) rates was assessed.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were queried for eligible studies. Studies included were comparative cohort studies and randomized trials that compared perfusion assessment of colorectal anastomosis with ICG-FA and inspection under white light. Main outcome measures were change in surgical plan guided by ICG-FA and rates of AL. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB-2 and ROBINS-1 tools. Differences between the two groups in categorical and continuous variables were expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and weighted mean difference.

RESULTS

This systematic review included 27 studies comprising 8786 patients (48.5% males). Using ICG-FA was associated with significantly lower odds of AL (OR 0.452; 95% CI 0.366-0.558) and complications (OR 0.747; 95% CI 0.592-0.943) than the control group. The weighted mean rate of change in surgical plan based on ICG-FA was 9.6% (95% CI 7.3-11.8) and varied from 0.64% to 28.75%. A change in surgical plan was associated with significantly higher odds of AL (OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.54-4.82).

LIMITATIONS

Technical heterogeneity due to using different dosage of ICG and statistical heterogeneity in operative time and complication rates.

CONCLUSION

Assessment of colorectal anastomoses with ICG-FA is likely to be associated with lower odds of anastomotic leak than is traditional white light assessment. Change in plan based on ICG-FA may be associated with higher odds of AL. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021235644.

Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Colorectal Cancer

Fluorescence vision using indocyanine green is a surgical tool with increasing applications in colorectal cancer surgery. This tool has received acceptance in several disciplines as a potential method to improve visualization of the surgical field, improve lymph node resection and decrease the incidence of anastomotic leaks (ALs). In colorectal surgery specifically, some studies have shown that intraoperative fluorescence imaging is a safe and feasible method to evaluate anastomotic perfusion, and its use could affect the incidence of anastomotic leaks. Currently, controlled trials are carried out to validate these conclusions, as well as new indications for indocyanine green such as detection and guidance in the management of hepatic colorectal metastases, visualization of ureters and even as tumor marking and improvement the lymph node harvest of early tumors. These advances could offer great value to surgeons and patients, by improving the accuracy and results of cancer resections.