Does mesorectal preservation protect the ileoanal anastomosis after restorative proctocolectomy?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The technique of rectal dissection during restorative proctocolectomy might influence the rate of septic complications. The aim of this study was to analyze the morbidity of restorative proctocolectomy in a consecutive series of patients who had rectal dissection with complete preservation of the mesorectum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-one patients who had restorative proctocolectomy for chronic inflammatory bowel disease with handsewn ileopouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and preservation of the mesorectal tissue were analyzed by chart reviews and a follow-up investigation at a median of 85 (14-169) months after surgery. RESULTS: Only one of 131 patients had a leak from the IPAA, and one patient had a pelvic abscess without evidence of leakage, resulting in 1.5% local septic complications. All other complications including the pouch failure rate (7.6%) and the incidence of both fistula (6.4%) and pouchitis (47.9%) were comparable to the data from the literature. CONCLUSION: The low incidence of local septic complications in this series might at least in part result from the preservation of the mesorectum. As most studies do not specify the technique of rectal dissection, this theory cannot be verified by an analysis of the literature and needs further approval by a randomized trial.

Evaluation of vector manometry for characterization of functional outcome after restorative proctocolectomy.

AIM: The impact of 3-dimensional vector manometry (VM) for characterization of the functional outcome of restorative proctocolectomy (RP) was studied in 61 patients at a median of 86 months after RP for ulcerative colitis. METHODS: A 14-day continence diary was utilized to quantify continence, urgency, and the frequency of defecation. The clinical outcome data were correlated to the physiology parameters of VM and volumetry. RESULTS: VM parameters at rest correlated with postoperative continence but not substantially with stool frequency and urgency. High radial asymmetry was significantly correlated with the degree of incontinence (r=0.333, p=0.013). Resting pressures demonstrated a better correlation with the degree of incontinence when documented for the high-pressure zone (HPZ; portion of the sphincter with at least 50% of the maximum pressure; r=0.301, p=0.025) and when performed in the continuous pull-through technique. Stool frequency and urgency were better characterized by volumetry parameters like threshold volumes and pouch compliance. The specificity and sensitivity of the vector volume at rest of the HPZ for the prediction of incontinence was 63.6% and 59.1%, respectively. The corresponding values were 67% and 68%, respectively, for radial asymmetry at rest. Stool frequency and urgency were better characterized by volumetry parameters like threshold volumes and pouch compliance. CONCLUSION: A strong anal sphincter at rest and a consistent radial distribution of the sphincter pressure are the most reliable indicators of continence after RP obtained by VM, but their clinical usefulness is limited.