What is the best surgical option after failure of graciloplasty in patients with recurrent rectovaginal fistula? A study of 19 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Management of recurrent rectovaginal fistula (rRVF) remains challenging despite the good results of graciloplasty reported in the literature. However, little is known about how to avoid a permanent stoma if graciloplasty fails. The aim of our study was to report the management of rRVF after failure of graciloplasty. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on consecutive patients with rRVF after failure of graciloplasty treated at our institution in January 2005-December 2021. RESULTS: There were 19 patients, with a median age at graciloplasty of 39 years (range 25-64 years). Etiologies of RVF were Crohn's disease (CD) (n = 10), postoperative (n = 5), post-obstetrical (n = 3), and unknown (n = 1). After failure of graciloplasty, 45 new procedures were performed, all of them with a covering stoma: trans-anal repairs (n = 31), delayed colo-anal anastomosis (DCAA) (n = 4), biological mesh interposition (n = 3), second graciloplasty (n = 3), stoma only (n = 2) and redo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) (n = 2). One patient was not re-operated on and instead treated medically for CD. After a mean follow-up of 63 ± 49 months, success (i.e., absence of stoma or RVF) was obtained in 11 patients (58%): 4/4 DCAA (100%), 5/31 after local repair (16%), 1 after stoma creation alone (50%) and 1 after redo IPAA (50%). Second graciloplasty and biologic mesh interposition all failed. All 8 patients with failed intervention had CD. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of rRVF after failed graciloplasty, reoperation is possible, although the chance of success is relatively low. The best results were obtained with DCAA. CD is a predictor of poor outcome.

C-reactive protein monitoring after ileocecal resection and stoma closure reduces length of hospital stay: a prospective case-matched study in 410 patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate a C-reactive protein (CRP)-driven monitoring discharge strategy for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) undergoing laparoscopic ileo-cecal resection (ICR) and if needed, temporary stoma closure (SC). METHODS: Four hundred and ten patients who underwent laparoscopic ICR for CD: 153 patients (CRP group) between June 2016 and June 2020 at our department, had a CRP-driven monitoring discharge on postoperative day (POD) 3 and were discharged on POD 4 if CRP < 100 mg/L. These patients were matched (according to age, sex, body mass index, type of CD (and stoma or not) to 257 patients who underwent laparoscopic ICR for CD between January 2009 and May 2016, without CRP monitoring (Control group). For SC, 79 patients with CRP monitoring were matched with 88 control patients. Primary outcome was overall length of hospital stay (LHS). Secondary outcomes were discharge on POD 4 for SC and POD 4 and POD 6 for ICR, 3-month postoperative overall morbidity and severe morbidity rates, surgical site infection, readmission rates, and CRP level in cases of morbidity at 3 months. RESULTS: For ICR without stoma, mean LHS was significantly shorter in the CRP group than in the control group (6.9 ± 2 days vs 8.3 ± 6 days, p = 0.017). Discharge occurred on POD 6 (or before) in 73% of the patients (CRP group) vs 60% (Control group) (p = 0.027). For ICR with stoma, LHS was 8 days for both groups (p = 0.612). For SC, LHS was significantly shorter in the CRP group than in the control group (5.5 ± 3 days vs 7.1 ± 4 days; p = 0.002). Discharge occurred on POD 4 in 62% (CRP group) vs 30% (Control) (p = 0.003). Postoperative 3-month overall and severe morbidity, and rehospitalization rates were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: CRP-driven monitoring discharge strategy after laparoscopic ICR for CD is associated with a significant reduction of LHS, without increasing morbidity, reoperation or rehospitalisation rates.

Can end-to-end anastomosis reduce the risks of anastomotic leak compared to side-to-end anastomosis? A comparative study of 518 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for low- or mid-rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: After laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) for low or mid-rectal cancer, we observed several cases of anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients with side-to-end anastomosis (STE). Thus, from December 2018, we routinely performed end-to-end anastomosis (ETE). The aim of this study was to assess if this new strategy changed AL and chronic pelvic sepsis rates in our department. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on all the patients who underwent a laparoscopic rectal resection with TME and sphincter-saving surgery for mid- and low-rectal adenocarcinoma from January 2006 to December 2019. A comparative study between STE and routine ETE was performed. The primary outcome was the assessment of postoperative AL rate. The secondary outcomes were: (a) overall morbidity rate; (c) severe morbidity rate defined by a Clavien-Dindo score > 3; (c) chronic leak rate. RESULTS: Five hundred eighteen patients underwent TME: STE was performed in 394 cases (76%) and ETE in 124 but for the first 66 cases only if STE was impossible (i.e., too short colon, obese patients). AL rates for STE were 57/204 (23%) after stapled colorectal anastomosis (CRA) and 34/190 (18%) after manual coloanal anastomosis (CAA). Since December 2018, routine ETE was performed in 58 cases. The AL rate for routine ETE was 3/24 (12%) for CRA, and 2/34 (6%) for CAA: thus, The AL rate dropped from 23% (91/394) after STE to 9% (5/58) after routine ETE (p = 0.0005). After a mean follow-up of 43 months (6-156), incidence of chronic AL was 68/394 (17%) after STE and 15/117 (13%) after ETE (p = 0.32). In the group of ETE with chronic AL, 11 patients (73%) spontaneously healed and stoma reversal was possible, whereas this happened in only 20 patients (29%) after STE (p = 0.0025). CONCLUSIONS: ETE seems to be associated with a significantly lower rate of AL and higher rate of spontaneous healing after chronic AL than STE.

Local excision after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus total mesorectal excision: a case-matched study in 110 selected high-risk patients with rectal cancer.

AIM: The aim of this comparative study was to report a 10-year experience of an organ preservation strategy by local excision (LE) in selected high-risk patients (aged patients and/or patients with severe comorbidity and/or indication for abdominoperineal excision) versus total mesorectal excision (TME) after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) for patients with locally advanced (T3-T4 and/or N+) low and mid rectal cancer with suspicion of complete tumour response (CTR) or near-CTR. METHOD: Thirty-nine patients with rectal cancer who underwent LE after RCT for suspicion of CTR were matched to 71 patients who underwent TME according to body mass index, gender, tumour location and ypTNM stage. Operative, oncological and functional results were compared between groups. RESULTS: In the LE group, ypT0, ypTis or ypT1N0R0 were noted in 28/39 (72%). Overall morbidity was observed in 10/39 (26%) in LE vs 46/71 in the TME group (65%) (P = 0.001). Severe morbidity (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3) was noted in 1/39 patients from the LE group (3%) vs 3/71 (4%) from the TME group (P = 1.000). After a mean follow-up of 63 ± 4 months (range 56-70 months), local recurrence was noted in 2/39 (5%) from the LE group vs 2/71 (3%) from the TME group (P = 0.601). Definitive stoma was noted in 2/39 (6%) from the LE group vs 8/71 (12%) from the TME group (P = 0.489). Major low anterior resection syndrome was noted in 5/23 (22%) from LE group vs 11/33 (33%) from the TME group (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of response prediction after RCT was 72% after LE. In high-risk patients, LE represents a safe alternative to TME with better functional results and the same long-term oncological outcome.

Segmental Colectomy for Ulcerative Colitis: Is There a Place in Selected Patients Without Active Colitis? An International Multicentric Retrospective Study in 72 Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to report a multicentric experience of segmental colectomy [SC] in ulcerative colitis [UC] patients without active colitis, in order to assess if SC can or cannot represent an alternative to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA]. METHODS: All UC patients undergoing SC were included. Postoperative complications according to ClavienDindo's classification, long term results, and risk factors for postoperative colitis and reoperation for colitis on the remnant colon, were assessed. RESULTS: A TOTAL OF: 72 UC patients underwent: sigmoidectomy [n = 28], right colectomy [n = 24], proctectomy [n = 11], or left colectomy [n = 9] for colonic cancer [n = 27], 'diverticulitis' [n = 17], colonic stenosis [n = 5], dysplasia or polyps [n = 8], and miscellaneous [n = 15]. Three patients died postoperatively and 5/69 patients [7%] developed early flare of UC within 3 months after SC. After a median followup of 40 months, 24/69 patients [35%] were reoperated after a median delay after SC of 19 months [range, 2-158 months]: 22/24 [92%] underwent total colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis [n = 9] or total coloproctectomy [TCP] [n = 13] and 2/24 [8%] an additional SC. Reasons for reoperation were: colitis [n = 14; 20%], cancer [n = 3] or dysplasia [n = 3], colonic stenosis [n = 1], and unknown reasons [n = 3]. Endoscopic score of colitis before SC was Mayo 23 in 5/5 [100%] patients with early flare vs 15/42 without early flare [36%; p = 0.0101] and in 9/12 [75%] patients with reoperation for colitis vs 11/35 without reoperation [31%; p = 0.016]. CONCLUSIONS: After segmental colectomy in UC patients, postoperative early colitis is rare [7%]. Segmental colectomy could possibly represent an alternative to IPAA in selected UC patients without active colitis.

Does a transanal drainage tube reduce anastomotic leakage? A matched cohort study in 144 patients undergoing laparoscopic sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of transanal drainage (TD) tube (a Foley catheter) on the anastomotic leak (AL) rate after laparoscopic sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer (SSS). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on, all consecutive patients undergoing SSS at our institution between June 2017 and October 2018. All patients had TD for at least 4 days after surgery and constituted the TD group. The patients from TD group were matched to patients who underwent SSS without TD between January 2015 and May 2017 (no-TD group) according to age, sex, body mass index, neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, mesorectal excision (total vs partial), and type of anastomosis (stapled vs hand sewn and side-to-end versus end-to-end). The primary endpoint was the AL rate, including both clinical and radiological AL. RESULTS: A total of 258 patients were included. Eighty-nine patients (34%) had a TD tube. After matching, 72 patients were included in each group. Mean TD duration was 3.9 [2.0-5.9] days. No significant differences between groups were observed in the rates of overall AL: 25/72 (35%) (TD) vs 17/72 (22%) (no-TD), (p = 0.14), clinical AL: 13/72 (18%) (TD) vs 7/72 (10%) (no-TD), (p = 0.23), and asymptomatic radiological AL: 12/72 (17%) (TD) vs 9/72 (13%) (no-TD), (p = 0.64). Multivariate analysis showed that male sex (OR 2.92, 95% CI [1.04-8.24]) and preoperative radiochemotherapy (OR 5.66, 95% CI [1.36-23.53]) were associated with AL. CONCLUSIONS: Our case-matched study suggested that a TD tube does not reduce the AL rate after laparoscopic sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer.

Hospital stay for temporary stoma closure is shortened by C-reactive protein monitoring: a prospective case-matched study.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been suggested as a satisfactory early marker of postoperative complications after colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a CRP monitoring-driven discharge strategy, after stoma reversal following laparoscopic sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients who had stoma reversal between June 2016 and April 2018 had CRP serum level monitoring on postoperative day (POD) 3 and, if necessary, on POD5. Patients were discharged on POD4 if the CRP level was < 100 mg/L. Patients were matched [according to age, gender, body mass index, neoadjuvant pelvic irradiation, type of anastomosis (stapled or manual), and adjuvant chemotherapy] to 109 identical control patients who had stoma reversal between 2012 and 2016 with the same postoperative care but without CRP monitoring. RESULTS: Postoperative 30-day overall morbidity [CRP group: 12/88 (14%) vs controls: 11/109, (10%), p = 0.441] and severe morbidity rates (i.e. Dindo 3-4) [CRP group: 2/88 (2%) vs controls: 2/109 (2%), p = 0.838] were similar between groups. Mean length of stay was significantly shorter in the CRP group (CRP group: 4.6 ± 1.3 vs controls: 5.8 ± 1.8 days; p < 0.001). Discharge occurred before POD5 in 59/88 (67%) CRP patients vs 15/109 (14%) controls (p < 0.001). The unplanned rehospitalization rate [CRP group: 6/88 (7%) vs controls: 4/109 (4%), p = 0.347] was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients having temporary stoma closure after laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, postoperative CRP monitoring is associated with a significant shortening of hospital stay without increasing morbidity or rehospitalization rates.