Does Kono-S Anastomosis Reduce Recurrence in Crohn's Disease Compared with Conventional Ileocolonic Anastomosis? A Nationwide Propensity Score-matched Study from GETAID Chirurgie Group [KoCoRICCO Study]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Postoperative recurrence is a major concern in Crohn's disease. The Kono-S anastomosis has been described to reduce the rate of recurrence. However, the level of evidence for its effectiveness remains low. The KoCoRICCO study aimed to compare outcomes between Kono-S anastomosis and conventional anastomosis in two nationwide, prospective cohorts.

METHODS

Adult patients with Crohn's disease, who underwent ileocolonic resection with Kono-S anastomosis, were prospectively included in seven referral centres between 2020 and 2022. Patients with conventional side-to-side anastomosis were enrolled from a previously published cohort. A propensity score analysis was performed to compare recurrence at first endoscopy in a matched 1:2 ratio population.

RESULTS

A total of 433 patients with ileocolonic anastomosis were enrolled, of whom 155 had a Kono-S anastomosis. Before matching, both groups were unbalanced for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics. After matching patients with available endoscopic follow-up, endoscopic recurrence ≥i2 was found in 47.5% of the Kono-S group and 44.3% of the conventional side-to-side group [p = 0.6745].

CONCLUSIONS

The KoCoRICCO study suggests that Kono-S anastomosis does not reduce the risk of endoscopic recurrence in Crohn's disease compared with conventional side-to-side anastomosis. Further research with a longer follow-up is necessary to determine whether there is a potential benefit on surgical recurrence.

KONO-S Anastomosis Is Not Superior to Conventional Anastomosis for the Reduction of Postoperative Endoscopic Recurrence in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection rates remain high in Crohn's disease (CD). Reducing postoperative recurrence (POR) is challenging. Besides drug therapy, the surgical anastomosis technique may reduce POR. We aimed to compare the endoscopic POR rate after Kono-S vs standard ileocolic anastomosis.

METHODS

The study included all consecutive CD patients operated on for ileocolic resection with a Kono-S anastomosis between February 2020 and March 2022. These patients were prospectively followed, and colonoscopy was performed 6 to 12 months after surgery. Patients were compared with a historical cohort of patients operated on with a conventional anastomosis in the same center. The primary end point was endoscopic POR (Rutgeerts score ≥i2). Factors associated with POR were assessed by univariate and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 85 patients were included, 30 in the Kono-S group and 55 in the control group. At baseline, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding CD characteristics or known POR risk factors, including previous exposure to biologics. At 6 to 12 months, endoscopic POR rate did not differ significantly between groups (56.7% in the Kono-S group vs 49.1% in the control group; P = .50), nor did endoscopic POR according to the modified Rutgeerts score ≥i2b (46.7% in the Kono-S group vs 40% in the control group; P = .55). Severe endoscopic POR rates were 23.3% and 18.2% in each group, respectively. Clinical recurrence rate was similar in both groups, and no recurrent surgery occurred. By multivariable analysis, the type of anastomosis was not associated with endoscopic POR (OR, 1.229; 95% CI, 0.461-3.274, P = .68); however, postoperative treatment with anti-TNF was (OR, 0.337; 95% CI, 0.131-0.865 P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Kono-S anastomosis was not associated with a reduced rate of endoscopic POR. These results warrant confirmation in prospective, randomized, multicenter studies.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with hepatic angiomyolipoma: A literature review

First reported in 1976, hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) is a rare mesenchymal liver tumor occurring mostly in middle-aged women. Diagnosis of the liver mass is often incidental on abdominal imaging due to the frequent absence of specific symptoms. Nearly 10% of HAMLs are associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. HAML contains variable proportions of blood vessels, smooth muscle cells and adipose tissue, which renders radiological diagnosis hazardous. Cells express positivity for HMB-45 and actin, thus these tumors are integrated into the group of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors. Typically, a HAML appears on magnetic resonance imaging (or computed tomography scan) as a hypervascular solid tumor with fatty areas and with washout, and can easily be misdiagnosed as other liver tumors, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma. The therapeutic strategy is not clearly defined, but surgical resection is indicated for symptomatic patients, for tumors showing an aggressive pattern (i.e., changes in size on imaging or high proliferation activity and atypical epithelioid pattern on liver biopsy), for large (> 5 cm) biopsy-proven HAML, and if doubts remain on imaging or histology. Conservative management may be justified in other conditions, since most cases follow a benign clinical course. In summary, the correct diagnosis of HAML is challenging on imaging and relies mainly on pathological findings.