Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: This study examines recent adherence to recommended neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy guidelines for patients with rectal cancer across geographic regions and institution volume and assesses trends over time. BACKGROUND: A recent report by the Institute of Medicine described US cancer care as chaotic. Cited deficiencies included wide variation in adherence to evidence-based guidelines even where clear consensus exists. METHODS: Patients operated on for clinical stage II and III rectal cancer were selected from the 2006-2011 National Cancer Data Base. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess variation in chemotherapy and radiation use by cancer center type, geographical location, and hospital volume. The analysis controlled for patient age at diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, primary payer, average household income, average education, urban/rural classification of patient residence, comorbidity, and oncologic stage. RESULTS: There were 30,994 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Use of neoadjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy varied significantly by type of cancer center. The highest rates of adherence were observed in high-volume centers compared with low-volume centers (78% vs 69%; adjusted odds ratio = 1.46; P < 0.001). This variation is mirrored by hospital geographic location. Primary payer and year of diagnosis were not predictive of rates of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines in rectal cancer is suboptimal in the United States, with significant differences based on hospital volume and geographic regions. Little improvement has occurred in the last 5 years. These results support the implementation of standardized care pathways and a Centers of Excellence program for US patients with rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: It is still unknown to what extent the reported morbidity and recovery benefits of laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy (TAC) for severe ulcerative colitis (UC) are associated with patient selection bias. This study aimed to evaluate whether laparoscopic TAC has any advantages over open surgery after control for perioperative confounding factors. METHODS: Patients undergoing TAC for UC during 2006-2010 were identified. Demographics, disease characteristics, and perioperative outcomes were compared between laparoscopic and open TAC. Postoperative recovery and 30-day complications were further assessed by covariate-adjusted multivariate regression models. The outcomes of different laparoscopic techniques were compared. A subgroup analysis including surgeons who routinely used both laparoscopic and open techniques was also performed. RESULTS: Of the 412 eligible patients, the 197 patients undergoing laparoscopic TAC were significantly younger and had a decreased Charlson Comorbidity Index and ASA score, increased hemoglobin and serum albumin levels, and a smaller proportion of extensive colitis and urgent cases. Unadjusted analyses showed that intraoperative morbidity, postoperative mortality, and rates for readmission and reoperation were similar. Laparoscopic TAC was associated with a longer operative time but a decrease in blood loss, overall morbidity, ileus, and thromboembolism, as well as a faster return to bowel function and a shorter hospital stay. After covariate adjustments, laparoscopic surgery remained associated with a reduction in the time to stoma function, incidence of postoperative ileus, and hospital stay compared with open TAC. The rates of postoperative morbidity, readmission, and reoperation did not differ regardless whether the conventional multitrocar technique, hand-assisted procedure, or single-incision technique was used. Laparoscopic TAC among surgeons using both open and laparoscopic techniques was associated with recovery benefits similar to those observed in the overall study population. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that laparoscopic TAC retains recovery advantages over open surgery even after adjustments for confounders.

BACKGROUND: After IPAA, the timing, management, and outcome of pouch-vaginal fistulas are poorly defined. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency, management, and outcome of patients who develop a pouch-vaginal fistula. DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in a single-center, high-volume tertiary referral colorectal unit. PATIENTS: Women with a pouch-vaginal fistula after IPAA from 1983 to 2010 were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The healing rate of pouch-vaginal fistulas was measured. RESULTS: Of 152 patients with a pouch-vaginal fistula after IPAA, 59 fistulas occurred at <12 months, constituting the early onset group, and 43 occurred at >12 months, constituting the late-onset group. Seventy-five patients (77.3%) underwent local repair (48 (49.5%) had ileal pouch advancement flap and 27 (27.8%) had transvaginal repair). The healing rate after ileal pouch advancement flap performed as a primary procedure was 42% and 66% when performed secondarily after a different procedure. The healing rate for transvaginal repair was 55% when done as a primary procedure and 40% when performed secondarily. Nineteen patients underwent redo ileal pouch construction, with an overall pouch retention rate of 40%. At median follow-up of 83 months (range, 5-480 months), 56 (57.7%) of the 102 patients had healed the pouch-vaginal fistula, whereas pouch failure occurred in 34 women (35%, 12 early onset and 22 late onset). Healing of the fistula was significantly lower (22% versus 73%; p < 0.001) and pouch failure higher (52.7% versus 22.7%, p < 0.001) when compared with Crohn's disease. On multivariate analysis, a postoperative delayed diagnosis of Crohn's disease was associated with failure (p = 0.01). No other factors were associated with pouch failure. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Pouch-vaginal fistula after IPAA surgery is indolent and may persist after repairs. A delayed diagnosis of Crohn's disease is associated with a poor outcome and a higher chance of pouch failure.

BACKGROUND: Data on the association between ileal pouch retention and clinical characteristics of pouch Crohn's disease developing after restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis are still limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify whether clinical features of pouch Crohn's disease are associated with pouch retention. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in a tertiary referral center. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: All patients diagnosed with clinically active pouch Crohn's disease during follow-up after IPAA for ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis were identified from an ileal pouch registry. The definition of early vs late diagnosis was based on the median time interval to diagnosis of Crohn's disease after pouch creation. The associations between pouch retention and the clinical features and treatments of pouch Crohn's disease were analyzed. OUTCOME MEASURE: The long-term pouch retention rate was estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze independent factors for pouch failure. RESULTS: From 1993 to 2009, a total of 65 (28 males) patients developed de novo pouch Crohn's disease during a mean 7.9 years of follow-up after pouch creation. The overall pouch retention rate was 57%. The median time from pouch creation to pouch Crohn's disease diagnosis was 3.6 years. Univariate analysis demonstrated that early diagnosis of pouch Crohn's disease, disease location, and clinical manifestations at the time of diagnosis were associated with pouch outcomes, whereas medical therapy or perianal surgery was not. Multivariate analysis showed that fistula at the time of diagnosis (OR = 17.5, p = 0.002) and early diagnosis (OR = 5.70, p = 0.011) were independent risk factors for pouch failure, whereas afferent limb disease was associated with pouch retention (OR = 0.07, p = 0.018). LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of this study and referral bias were limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Disease characteristics of de novo pouch Crohn's disease heavily influence pouch retention. The interval from pouch construction, fistulizing disease, and disease location can be used as prognostic indicators when ileal pouch Crohn's disease is diagnosed.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We compared long-term outcomes between adult and pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who underwent restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study that analyzed data from consecutive patients with ileal pouches who presented to the subspecialty Pouch Center at the Cleveland Clinic from 2002-2011. Pouch outcomes of 104 pediatric patients (having pouch surgery at age <18 years; 53 male) were compared with those of 1135 adults (having pouch surgery at an age 18 years or older; 632 male). RESULTS: Pediatric patients had a shorter duration from time of IBD diagnosis to colectomy than adult patients. Fewer pediatric than adult patients had a history of smoking, concomitant extraintestinal manifestations, or dysplasia as the indication for colectomy. However, pediatric patients had higher rates of pouch procedure-related complications, postoperative pouch-associated hospitalization, and postoperative use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for pouch failure included preoperative use of anti-TNF agents (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-3.13; P = .032), postoperative use of anti-TNF agents (HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.31-3.27; P = .002), Crohn's disease of the pouch (HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.28-3.82; P = .005), pouch procedure-related complications (HR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.55-4.64; P < .001), and postoperative pouch-associated hospitalization (HR, 25.20; 95% CI, 14.44-43.97; P < .001). Being a pediatric patient was not significantly associated with pouch failure in univariate or multivariate analyses (HR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.32-1.16; P = .13). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of an analysis of patients with IBD who underwent restorative proctocolectomy and presented at a subspecialized Pouch Center, patients who had the surgery at a pediatric age tend to have a higher incidence of postoperative pouch complications than adults. However, long-term rates of pouch retention were comparable.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding the long-term outcomes of restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis including pouch function and quality of life in the pediatric population are limited in pediatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: Indications for surgery, complications, long-term function, and quality of life were evaluated in pediatric patients undergoing ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Assessment of quality of life was performed using the Cleveland Global Quality of Life score. RESULTS: There were 433 patients with a mean age of 18.04 +/- 2.9 years. Final pathologic diagnoses were ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis (78.3%), familial adenomatous polyposis (15.7%), Crohn's disease (5.1%), and others (0.9%). There were 237 patients (54.7%) who underwent total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis; 196 (45.3%) underwent initial subtotal colectomy followed by completion proctectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Anastomosis was stapled in 352 patients (81.3%) and hand-sewn in 81 (18.7%) patients. Mean follow-up was 108.5 +/- 78.4 months. At the most recent follow-up, mean Cleveland Global Quality of Life score was 0.8 +/- 0.2 and numbers of daytime and night-time bowel movements were 5.3 +/- 3.1 and 1.6 +/- 1.3, respectively. The majority of the patients (86.8%) were fully continent or only complained of rare incontinence. Most patients had no seepage (day, 84.3%; night, 72.4%) and did not wear any pads (day, 89.3%; night, 84.3%). Most denied dietary (71.3%), social (84.8%), work (85.7%), or sexual restrictions (87.6%) at the time of last follow-up. There were 92.7% of patients who said they would undergo ileal pouch anal anastomosis again and 95.2% would recommend surgery to others. CONCLUSIONS: Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis can be performed in pediatric patients with acceptable morbidity and is associated with good long-term results in terms of gastrointestinal function, quality of life, and patient satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Obese patients pose additional operative technical difficulties, and it is unclear if the outcomes of single-port colorectal surgery are equivalent to those of conventional laparoscopy in such patients. The aim of this study was to compare perioperative variables and short-term outcomes of single-port versus conventional laparoscopy in obese patients undergoing colorectal surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Obese patients (BMI >/= 30 kg/m(2)) undergoing single-port laparoscopic colorectal resections between March 2009 and September 2012 were case matched 1:1 with obese counterparts undergoing conventional (multi-port) laparoscopic surgery based on diagnosis and operation type. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients who underwent single-port surgery were matched with 37 conventional laparoscopic counterparts. Male gender predominated in the single-port group (26 vs 15, p = 0.02). The number of patients with a history of previous abdominal operations (17 vs 13, p = 0.48) and ASA score (3 vs 2, p = 0.6) were similar between the groups. No differences were observed with respect to conversion rate (2 vs 5, p = 0.43), operative time (146 vs 150 min, p = 0.48), estimated blood loss (159 vs 183 ml, p = 0.99), time to first flatus (3 vs 3 days, p = 0.91), time to first bowel movement (3 vs 4 days, p = 0.62), length of hospital stay (7 vs 6 days, p = 0.37), or reoperation (2 vs 1, p > 0.99), and readmission rates (2 vs 2, p > 0.99). There were no deaths. CONCLUSION: For obese patients undergoing colorectal resections, single-port laparoscopy appears to be as safe and effective as conventional laparoscopy.