Gastrointestinal injuries during gynaecologic operations at a university teaching hospital in Thailand: a 10-year review

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of gastrointestinal injuries during gynaecologic operations, the management of such injuries and associated risk factors. This case-control study (1:4) examined patients who received gynaecologic operations from 2007 to 2016 in Ramathibodi Hospital. The study cases comprised patients who had gastrointestinal injuries, while the control cases comprised patients who had gynaecologic surgeries in the same period with matching the types of procedures. The 10-year incidence was 0.38% (104 cases of gastrointestinal injuries among a total of 27,520 cases). The most common injury site was the small bowel (43.3%). There were 102 cases (98%) of gastrointestinal injuries which were diagnosed intraoperatively and which were immediately repaired with successful outcomes. Logistic regression indicated that a pelvic adhesion, previous pelvic surgery and previous abdominal surgery were predictive risk factors associated with the injuries (odds ratios: 9.45, 3.20 and 11.84, respectively). An immediate consultation with a surgeon and surgical repair of the injury resulted in excellent outcomes. Impact statement What is already known about this subject? Gastrointestinal injury is a rare, but fatal complication of gynaecologic operations. The previous small study identified some risk factors such as surgical approach and pelvic surgery associated with the injury. What do the results of this study contribute? Our study identified the associated risk factors for gastrointestinal injury, including previous abdominal injury, pelvic adhesion and previous pelvic surgery. A previous abdominal surgery was the most associated risk factor. Patients with the history of abdominal surgery had an almost 4-fold higher odds ratio than the ones with previous pelvic surgery. Other factors, including endometriosis, ovarian cancer and subsequent oncological procedures, and surgical staging were less related to the gastrointestinal injury. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The knowledge is useful for pre-operative evaluation and preparation. Bowel preparation and consultation with surgeon are necessary for patients with these risk factors prior to their surgeries. Moreover, an immediate intra-operative surgical correction of the injury results in excellent outcomes.

Outcomes of Iatrogenic Genitourinary Injuries During Colorectal Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To describe, categorize, and determine the outcomes of repairs of genitourinary (GU) injuries that occur during colorectal surgery. Presently, little is known regarding these injuries or the long-term outcomes of their repair.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing colorectal surgery between 2003 and 2013 who experienced iatrogenic GU injuries requiring surgical repair. GU repair failures were defined as development of urine leak, urinary fistula, or anastomotic stricture requiring secondary GU intervention. Possible risk factors associated with repair failures were examined and included age, American Society of Anesthesiology score, comorbidities, type of colorectal surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Of 42,570 colorectal surgeries performed, 75 GU injuries were identified (0.18%). Mean age was 57.5 years (range, 22-91), and median follow-up was 19.5 months (range, 1-128). Fifty-nine (59/75, 79%) patients required a single GU repair whereas 16 of 75 (21%) patients experienced repair failure requiring additional GU intervention. The most common GU injuries were cystotomy (26/75, 35%), incomplete ureteral transection (22/75, 29%), complete proximal and distal ureteral injuries (13/75, 17%; 11/75, 15%), urethral injury (2/75, 3%), and injury to a pre-existing ileal conduit (1/75, 1). Twenty-seven patients (36%) had prior radiation and 35 patients (47%) had prior chemotherapy. Preoperative radiation and chemotherapy were both associated with failure of the GU repair (P = .003; P = .013). Delayed repair of the GU injury was also associated with repair failure (P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Iatrogenic GU injuries during colorectal surgery are rare, affecting only 0.18% of colorectal procedures. Preoperative external beam radiation therapy/chemotherapy and delayed GU repair are associated with worse outcomes of repairs of these injuries.