Long-term results of abdominal salvage surgery following restorative proctocolectomy

• Published in: British journal of surgery 2006-02, Vol.93 (2), p.231-237
• Main Authors: Tekkis, P. P., Heriot, A. G., Smith, J. J., Das, P., Canero, A., Nicholls, R. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Colonic Diseases - surgery; Colonic Pouches; Female; General aspects; Graft Survival; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Proctocolectomy, Restorative; Salvage Therapy; Stomach, duodenum, intestine, rectum, anus; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Survival Analysis; Treatment Failure
• ISSN: 0007-1323; 1365-2168
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.5242

Background: This study evaluated outcomes of patients who underwent abdominal salvage ileal pouch redo surgery and identified factors associated with pouch failure following restorative proctocolectomy. Methods: Data on patients who underwent abdominal salvage surgery in a tertiary referral centre between 1985 and 2003 were collected. Outcomes studied included failure of salvage and bowel function of patients with an intact intestine. Results: One hundred and twelve patients underwent 117 pouch salvage procedures for ulcerative colitis (86), indeterminate colitis/ulcerative colitis (eight), indeterminate colitis/Crohn's disease (three), familial adenomatous polyposis (ten) and other conditions (five). The most common indications for pouch salvage were intra‐abdominal sepsis (45 patients), anastomotic stricture (13) and retained rectal stump (35). Median follow‐up was 46 (range 1–147) months. Twenty‐four patients (21·4 per cent) experienced pouch failure, the incidence of which increased with time. The pouch failed in all patients with Crohn's disease. Successful salvage at 5 years was significantly associated with non‐septic (85 per cent) rather than septic (61 per cent) indications (P = 0·016). Frequency of night‐time defaecation and faecal urgency improved after salvage surgery (P = 0·036 and P = 0·016 respectively at 5‐year follow‐up; n = 32). Conclusion: Abdominal salvage surgery was associated with a failure rate of 21·4 per cent. A successful outcome was less likely when the procedure was carried out for septic compared with non‐septic indications. The rate of pouch failure increased with length of follow‐up. Copyright © 2006 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Large series, poor outcomes for pelvic sepsis and Crohn's disease