Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of stricturoplasty and endoscopic balloon dilatation in the treatment for ileal pouch strictures. METHOD: Consecutive inflammatory bowel disease patients with pouch strictures seen at our Pouch Center from 2002 to 2012 were studied. The efficacy and safety of stricturoplasty (vs. endoscopic balloon dilation) were evaluated with both univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 16 (9.6 %) with surgical stricturoplasty and 151 (90.4 %) with endoscopic balloon dilation. Ninety-four patients (56.3 %) were male, with a mean age at the diagnosis of pouch stricture of 41.6 +/- 13.2 years. Fifty-one patients (30.5 %) had multiple pouch strictures, while 100 (59.9 %) patients had strictures at the pouch inlet. The mean length of pouch strictures was 1.2 +/- 0.6 cm. No difference was found between the stricturoplasty and endoscopic dilation groups in clinicopathological variables, except for the degree of strictures (p = 0.019). After a mean follow-up of 4.1 +/- 2.6 years, pouch stricture recurred in 92 patients (55.1 %) and 21 (12.6 %) patients developed pouch failure. The time interval between the procedure and pouch stricture recurrence or pouch failure was longer in the stricturoplasty group than that in the endoscopic dilation group (p < 0.001). Patients in the two groups had similar overall pouch survival rates and stricture-free survival rates. In the multivariate analysis, stricturoplasty vs. endoscopic dilation was not significantly associated with either overall pouch survival or stricture-free survival. There was no difference in the procedure-associated complication rates between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Surgical stricturoplasty and endoscopic dilation treatment are complimentary techniques for pouch strictures. Repeated endoscopic dilatations are often required, while surgical stricturoplasty appeared to yield a longer time interval to stricture recurrence or pouch failure.

BACKGROUND: Restorative proctocolectomy and IPAA in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis may leave residual anal transitional zone mucosa that is prone to neoplasia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term control of neoplasia at the IPAA, the functional outcomes, and the influence of anastomotic technique on these results. DESIGN: : This research is a retrospective cohort study from a prospective database. SETTING: The investigation took place in a high-volume specialized colorectal surgery department. PATIENTS: Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis who underwent IPAA between 1983 and 2010 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were functional outcomes, quality of life, and the incidence of neoplasia in the anal transitional zone. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients underwent mucosectomy and 174 underwent stapled anastomosis with mean 155 +/- 99 and 95 +/- 70 months follow-up. Eighteen patients (20.9%) in the mucosectomy group and 59 patients (33.9%) in the stapled group developed anal transitional zone adenomas (p = 0.03). One of 86 (1.2%) patients undergoing mucosectomy and 3 of 174 (1.7%) patients undergoing stapled anastomosis developed cancer in the anal transitional zone (p > 0.05). Three of these patients underwent an abdominoperineal resection, but one who refused abdominoperineal resection underwent transanal excision with neoileoanal anastomosis. Patients undergoing a mucosectomy had a significantly higher rate of anastomotic stricture, but other complications were similar. Incontinence, seepage, and pad usage were higher in the mucosectomy group. Cleveland global quality-of-life score was 0.8 +/- 0.2 in patients with handsewn anastomoses and 0.8 +/- 0.3 in patients with a stapled anastomoses (p > 0.05). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its nonrandomized retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: Risk for the development of adenomas in the anal transitional zone is higher after a stapled IPAA than after a mucosectomy with handsewn anastomosis. However, control of anal transitional zone neoplasia results in a similar risk of cancer development. Because the stapled procedure is associated with better long-term functional outcomes than a mucosectomy, stapled IPAA is the preferable procedure for most patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Several factors predictive of readmission after colorectal surgery have been identified. Although often grouped together in readmission studies, colon and rectal resections differ in many ways. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with readmission after rectal resection. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective, single-center cohort study of 565 patients who underwent rectal resections at a tertiary referral center in 2010 and 2011. The main outcomes measure was readmission within 30 days. Univariate comparison between readmitted and nonreadmitted patients was followed by a stepwise logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for readmission. RESULTS: There were 105 patients (18.6%) readmitted. Indication (inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], p = 0.008), type of operation (pelvic pouch surgery, p = 0.02), use of laparoscopy (readmission 27.8% vs 14%, p < 0.001), and length of operation (p < 0.001) were associated with a higher readmission rate on univariate analysis. Neither preoperative chemoradiation (p = 0.89) nor American Society of Anesthesiologists class (p = 0.09) was associated with readmission. Logistic regression showed use of laparoscopy (odds ratio [OR] 1.94, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.07), initial diagnosis of IBD (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.93), and length of operation (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.16 per 30 minutes) to be independent risk factors. Risks of readmission were 6.7%, 13.4%, 27.4%, and 27.4% with 0, 1, 2, or 3 positive risk factors, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission after rectal resection is associated with the indication for surgery and the operative technique used. Optimization of factors related to the underlying pathology and careful appraisal of the operative technique may result in decreased readmission after proctectomy.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the need for and the interval of surveillance pouchoscopy in asymptomatic ileal pouch patients with underlying ulcerative colitis (UC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the likelihood of finding dysplasia or incidental ileal pouch disorders in asymptomatic patients undergoing surveillance pouchoscopy. METHODS: This study included all eligible consecutive asymptomatic UC patients undergoing surveillance pouchoscopy to our subspecialty Pouchitis Clinic from 2002 to 2011. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 72 (52.2 %) being male. The mean age at pouch construction was 45.4 +/- 15.0 years, and the mean interval from ileostomy closure to the inception of first surveillance pouchoscopy was 89.4 +/- 78.8 months. One patient was found to have indefinite for dysplasia on pouch body mucosal biopsy (0.7 %), and two patients had non-caseating granulomas, suggesting Crohn's disease (CD) of the pouch. Of the 138 patients, 69 (50 %) had abnormal endoscopic findings, 102 (73.9 %) had acute and/or chronic inflammation on histology, and 62 (44.9 %) had both abnormal endoscopy and histology. The abnormal endoscopic findings included isolated pouch ulcer (n = 29, 21 %), active pouchitis (n = 31, 22.5 %), inflammatory polyps (n = 10, 7.2 %), strictures at the anastomosis (n = 5, 3.6 %), inlet (n = 10, 7.2 %) or outlet (n = 2, 1.4 %). Thirteen patients (13/17, 76.5 %) with pouch strictures underwent endoscopic balloon dilatation therapy and nine had (9/10, 90 %) endoscopic polypectomy. Multivariable analysis showed that patients with a preoperative diagnosis of CD and concomitant extraintestinal manifestations had a higher risk for abnormal pouch endoscopic findings with odds ratios of 2.552 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.108-16.545, p = 0.035) and 4.281 (95 % CI 1.204-5.409, p = 0.014), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dysplasia was rare in asymptomatic patients with restorative proctocolectomy who underwent surveillance pouchoscopy in this cross-sectional study. However, "incidental" abnormal endoscopic and/or histologic findings were common, which often needed endoscopic therapeutic intervention.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate the impact of weight gain on pouch outcomes after ileostomy closure. METHODS: Consecutive inflammatory bowel disease patients with ileal pouches followed up at our subspecialty Pouch Center from 2002 to 2011 were studied. The association of excessive weight gain (defined as a 15% increase the index weight) with pouch outcomes were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 846 patients met inclusion criteria, with 470 (55.6%) being men. The mean age at the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and at pouch surgery was 27.2 +/- 11.9 years and 37.8 +/- 12.8 years, respectively. Patients with weight gain more likely had mechanical or surgical complications of the pouch (18.4% versus 12.3%, P = 0.049), Crohn's disease of the pouch (30.6% versus 18.5%, P = 0.001), Pouch Center visits (2.0 [1.0-4.0] versus 2.0 [1.0-3.0], P = 0.008), and postoperative pouch-related hospitalization (21.1% versus 10.6%, P < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 9.0 (interquartile range = 4.0-14.0) years, 68 patients (8.0%) developed pouch failure. In the multivariate analysis, excessive weight gain was an independent risk factor for pouch failure with a hazard ratio of 1.69 (95% confidence interval = 1.01-2.84, P = 0.048) after adjusting for preoperative or postoperative use of anti-tumor necrosis factor biologics, postoperative use of immunosuppressants, Crohn's disease of the pouch, mechanical or surgical complications of the pouch, and postoperative pouch-associated hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive weight gain after closure of the ileostomy is associated with worse pouch outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Appropriate weight control may help improve pouch retention.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between intraoperative temperature and surgical site infection (SSI) in colorectal surgery with anesthesia information system data. METHODS: Continuously measured intraoperative anesthesia information system temperature data for adult abdominal colorectal surgery procedures at a large tertiary center for 1 year were linked to 30-day American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program SSI outcomes. Univariable and multivariable analyses of SSI to descriptive temperature statistics, absolute and relative temperature threshold times, and other clinically relevant variables were performed. RESULTS: Overall, 1008 patients (48% female, median age: 53 years) underwent major colorectal procedures (7% emergent, 72% open, 173 +/- 95 minutes mean procedure time) with median intraoperative temperature 36.0 degrees C, using active rewarming in 92% and 1-hour presurgical antibiotic administration in 91%. Thirty-day overall and organ/space infection rates were 17.4% (175) and 8.5% (86). Maximum, minimum, ending, and median temperatures were similar for those with or without SSI (36.6 degrees C vs 36.5 degrees C, 34.9 degrees C vs 35.0 degrees C, 36.4 degrees C vs 36.2 degrees C, and 36.1 degrees C vs 36.0 degrees C, P = not significant) and percent minutes using incremental cutoffs failed to correlate SSI with temperature. Absolute minutes for higher temperature cutoffs correlated with SSI because of longer procedure times. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with SSI were preoperative diabetes [odds ratio: 1.81 (1.07-3.07), P = 0.022] and blood loss of more than 500 mL [odds ratio: 1.61 (1.01-2.58), P = 0.047]. CONCLUSIONS: Although active rewarming remains an accepted and valid process measure, highly granular anesthesia information system temperature data did not demonstrate a correlation between temperature measures and SSI. SSI prevention efforts should focus on more efficacious interventions as opposed to currently mandated publicly reported normothermia measures.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery benefits obese patients but technical difficulties associated with suboptimal exposure and access in these subjects may prompt conversion to open surgery. Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) confers advantages over standard laparoscopy (LAP) by facilitating tactile feedback, assisted dissection, and retraction. These benefits could be particularly valuable in obese patients, allowing completion of difficult laparoscopic procedures in this subgroup. Our aim was to compare intra-operative and post-operative outcomes of HALS and LAP approaches in obese patients undergoing colorectal resection at our institution. METHODS: A retrospective study of a prospectively maintained laparoscopic colorectal surgery database was performed. HALS and LAP cases performed in obese patients (body mass index (BMI) >30) were identified and compared for the following outcomes: operative time, intra-operative complications, rate of conversion to open, blood loss, length of stay, post-operative morbidity, and mortality. Outcomes for the converted patients were included on an intention-to-treat basis for all primary analyses. A secondary analysis of nonconverted and converted cases was also performed. RESULTS: Over a 5-year period, 496 obese patients underwent laparoscopic colorectal resection; 86 HALS and 410 LAP cases. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, BMI, and indications for surgery. Conversion to open surgery was less often necessary in HALS compared to LAP cases (3.5 % vs. 12.7 %, p = 0.014). The LAP group had a significantly smaller incision length for specimen extraction (HALS (7.0 +/- 1.3 cm) vs. LAP (5.7 +/- 2.1 cm), p < 0.001). Length of stay, operative time, morbidity, and mortality rates were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In obese patients who require colectomy, the HALS approach increases the likelihood of a successful minimally invasive operation. At the cost of a clinically negligible increase in incision length, HALS may save a high-risk group conversion to formal laparotomy and the adverse outcomes related to this.

BACKGROUND: Accidental puncture or laceration during a surgical procedure is a patient safety indicator that is publicly reported and will factor into the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's pay-for-performance plan. Accidental puncture or laceration includes serosal tear, enterotomy, and injury to the ureter, bladder, spleen, or blood vessels. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify risk factors and assess surgical outcomes related to accidental puncture or laceration. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in a single-hospital department of colorectal surgery. PATIENTS: Inpatients undergoing colorectal surgery in which an accidental puncture or laceration did or did not occur were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were surgical complications, length of stay, and readmission. RESULTS: Of 2897 operations, 269 had accidental puncture or laceration (9.2%) including serosal tear (47%), enterotomy (38%), and extraintestinal injuries (15%). Accidental puncture or laceration cases had more diagnoses of enterocutaneous fistula (11% vs 2%, p < 0.001), reoperative cases (91% vs 61%, p < 0.001), open surgery (96% vs 77%, p < 0.001), longer operative times (186 vs 146 minutes, p = 0.001), and increased length of stay (10 vs 7 days, p = 0.002). Patients with serosal tears had entirely similar outcomes to those without an injury, whereas patients with enterotomies had increased operative times and length of stay, and patients with extraintestinal injuries had higher rates of reoperation and sepsis (p < 0.05 for all). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the loss of sensitivity due to grouping extraintestinal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Accidental puncture or laceration is more likely to occur in complex colorectal operations. The clinical consequences range from none to significant depending on the specific type of injury. To make accidental puncture or laceration a more meaningful quality indicator, we advocate that groups who use the measure eliminate the injuries that have no bearing on surgical outcome and that risk adjustment for operative complexity is performed.

BACKGROUND: Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the treatment of choice for chronic, medically refractory mucosal ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and a select group of patients with Crohn's disease. AIM: : We report outcomes, complications, and quality of life (QOL) in a cohort of 3707 patients treated at our institution from January 1984 to March 2010. METHODS: Data were collected from a prospectively maintained database and chart review of 3707 consecutive primary IPAA cases. Patient demographics, postoperative complications, functional outcomes, and QOL data were available. Follow-up consisted of clinical examination with assessment of pouch function and QOL. RESULTS: A total of 3707 patients underwent primary pouch and 328 underwent redo pouch surgery. Postoperative histopathological diagnoses were mucosal ulcerative colitis (n = 2953, 79.7%), indeterminate colitis (n = 63, 1.7%), FAP (n = 223, 6%), Crohn's disease (n = 150, 4%), cancer/dysplasia (n = 97, 2.6%), and others (n = 221, 6.0%). Early perioperative complications were encountered in 33.5% of patients with a mortality rate of 0.1%. Excluding pouchitis, late complications were experienced by 29.1% of patients. Of those patients who had IPAA at our institution, pouch failure occurred in 197 patients (5.3%). During a median follow-up of 84 months, 119 patients (3.2%) required excision of the pouch, 32 (0.8%) had a nonfunctioning pouch, and 46 patients (1.2%) had redo IPAA. Functional outcomes and QOL were good or excellent in 95% of patients and similar in each histopathological subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: IPAA is an excellent option for patients with MUC, IC, FAP, and select patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic features as predictors in pouch failure have not been studied. A well-constructed J-pouch typically has an "owl's eye" appearance in the proximal pouch body. We hypothesized that loss of the owl's eyes is associated with a high risk for pouch failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the distorted endoscopic appearance of owl's eyes and pouch failure. METHODS: A total of 711 available pouch endoscopic images from 426 J-pouch patients were reviewed and scored blindly. A scoring system was generated for distorted owl's eyes. Multivariable analyses were performed to assess the link between the endoscopic feature or other variables and pouch failure. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (8.7%) developed pouch failure, with a median of 5.0 (interquartile range, 2.0-11.0) years of follow-up. Multivariable analyses showed that 2 or more "beak" abnormalities were associated with failure rates of 33.3%, 44.4%, and 72.2% by 5, 10, and 15 years of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, respectively (hazard ratio = 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-9.0). In addition, diagnosis of Crohn's disease or surgical complications, the postoperative use of anti-tumor necrosis factor biologics, and a high cuff endoscopy inflammation score had statistically significant hazard ratios of 3.2, 5.8, and 1.5 for pouch failure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Distorted appearance of "beak" portion of owl's eyes along with Crohn's disease of the pouch or surgery-related complications, postoperative use of biologics, and persistent cuffitis were the risk factors associated with pouch failure. The assessment of endoscopic owl's eye structure may provide an additional clue to predict pouch outcome.