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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., (© 2022. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Introduction: Multiple chronic ulcers of small intestine are mainly ascribed to Crohn's disease. Among possible differential diagnoses are chronic ulcers of small bowel caused by abnormal activation of the prostaglandin pathway either in the archetypal but uncommon non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID]-induced enteropathy, or in rare monogenic disorders due to PLA2G4A and SLCO2A1 mutations. SLCO2A1 variants are responsible for CEAS [chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1], a syndrome which was exclusively reported in patients of Asian origin. Herein, we report the case of two French female siblings, P1 and P2, with CEAS., Case Report: P1 underwent iterative bowel resections [removing 1 m of small bowel in total] for recurrent strictures and perforations. Her sister P2 had a tight duodenal stricture which required partial duodenectomy. Next-generation sequencing was performed on P1's DNA and identified two compound heterozygous variants in exon 12 in SLCO2A1, which were also present in P2., Conclusion: CEAS can be detected within the European population and raises the question of its incidence and recognition outside Asia. Presence of intractable recurrent ulcerations of the small intestine, mimicking Crohn's disease with concentric strictures, should motivate a genetic search for SLCO2A1 mutations, particularly in the context of family history or consanguinity., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background: Abdominoperineal resection (APR) is today the standard treatment for improving survival in case of mesorectal failure without anal canal recurrence after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCC). The aim of this study was to assess if a sphincter-saving surgery is a safe alternative to classical salvage APR in these patients., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on all patients who had total mesorectal excision (TME) with sphincter-saving surgery either with coloanal or low colorectal anastomosis, for mesorectal failure after CRT for SCC between 2012 and 2020 at our institution. The main endpoint of our study was oncological results at the end of follow-up. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were secondary endpoints., Results: There were 10 patients, (8 women, median age 55 years [range 45-61 years]). On TME specimens, R0 resections were noted in five (50%), R1 resection in four (40%) and R2 resection in one (10%). After a median follow-up of 42 months (4-74 months), five patients were alive, and four (40%) were alive at 5-year follow-up. During follow-up, locoregional failure after TME was noted in two patients (20%), distant relapse in three patients (30%) and both locoregional plus distant failure in two patients (20%). Only two patients (20%) had anal recurrence, one in the anal canal, the other in the peri-anastomotic area. Long- term local control was achieved in 2 of the 5 patients (40%) who underwent R0 resection versus only 1/4 patients (25%) with R1 resection., Conclusions: Our preliminary study suggested that sphincter-saving surgery could be proposed in selected patients with SCC presenting mesorectal failure after CRT, providing a feasible R0 resection., (© 2022. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Aim: Several papers have been published about the risk of recurrence after an attack of diverticulitis treated conservatively. However, very few papers have been devoted to the risk of postoperative recurrence of diverticulitis (PRD) after prophylactic sigmoidectomy (PS). The aim of this work was to report the rate of PRD after PS and to assess possible risk factors for recurrence after surgery., Method: All consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic PS for diverticulitis between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively included. PRD was assessed., Results: Three hundred and sixty four patients (199 men, mean age 54 ± 13 years) were included. Among these, 26 (7%) presented with 1.7 ± 1 (range 1-4) episodes of recurrence of diverticulitis after a mean delay of 44 ± 39 months (1 month-11 years) after surgery. Patients who presented with postoperative recurrence of diverticulitis were younger (46 ± 11 vs. 55 ± 13 years, p = 0.002) and more frequently had uncomplicated diverticulitis [15/26 (58%) vs. 97/338 (29%), p = 0.002] and more than two previous episodes before PS [17/26 (65%) vs. 132/338 (39%), p = 0.009] than patients without PRD. After multivariate analysis, two independent risk factors for PRD were identified: patients with more than two episodes before PS (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.2-9, p = 0.005) and age < 50 years (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2-11, p = 0.001). If both factors were present, recurrence reached 18% (9/51)., Conclusion: Postoperative recurrence of diverticulitis is rare (7%) after PS for diverticulitis. Some patients (i.e. those with more than two episodes before PS and/or age <50 years) could be exposed to a higher risk of recurrence (up to 18%), making prophylactic surgery questionable in these patients., (© 2022 Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Aim: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a common biomarker of inflammation which has largely been used to predict the risk of postoperative septic complications after colorectal surgery. However, no data exist concerning its potential benefit after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate a CRP-driven monitoring discharge strategy after laparoscopic IPAA for UC., Methods: Since 2012, 158 patients undergoing a laparoscopic IPAA for UC have been included: 66 patients (CRP group) operated since 2016 had a CRP-driven monitoring discharge on postoperative day 5 (POD 5) and were discharged on POD 6 if CRP < 100 mg/L; these patients were matched (according to age, gender, body mass index, IPAA in two or three steps) to 92 patients operated between 2012 and 2016 without any CRP monitoring (control group)., Results: Median length of hospital stay was shorter in the CRP than the control group (7 vs. 9 days; P < 0.001) and discharge on POD 6 occurred more frequently in the CRP group (47% vs. 7%, P < 0.001). No difference was observed between the two groups concerning overall morbidity (P = 0.980), surgical site infection (P = 0.554), Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIa morbidity (P = 0.523), unplanned rehospitalization (P = 0.734) and 30-day reoperation (P = 0.240)., Conclusion: CRP-driven monitoring discharge strategy after laparoscopic IPAA for UC is associated with a significant reduction in length of hospital stay, without increasing morbidity, reoperation or rehospitalization rates., (© 2022 Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Aim: Management of rectovaginal fistula (RVF) remains a challenge, especially in cases of postoperative RVF as they are often large and surrounded by inflammatory and fibrotic tissue, making local repair difficult or even impossible. In this situation, colonic pull-through delayed coloanal anastomosis (DCAA) could be an interesting option. The aim of this study was to assess the results of DCAA for RVF observed after rectal surgery., Methods: All patients who underwent DCAA for RVF were reviewed. Success was defined as a patient without stoma and without any symptoms of recurrent RVF at the end of follow-up., Results: From January 2010 to December 2020, 28 DCAA were performed for RVF after rectal surgery for rectal cancer (n = 21) or endometriosis (n = 7). Ten patients (36%) had at least one previous local procedure before DCAA. DCAA was associated with temporary ileostomy in 22/28 cases (79%). After a mean follow-up of 23 ± 23 (2-82) months, the success rate was 86% (24/28): three patients (11%) required a definitive stoma because of poor functional results (n = 1), chronic pelvic sepsis with anastomotic leakage (n = 1) or stoma reversal refused (n = 1). Another patient (3%) presented with recurrence of RVF, 26 months after DCAA. Although not significant, the success rate was higher in cases of DCAA with diverting stoma (20/22, 91%) than without (4/6, 67%) (p = 0.191)., Conclusion: In cases of postoperative RVF, DCAA is a safe option which can avoid definitive stoma in the great majority of the patients. Concomitant use of a temporary stoma appears to slightly increase the success rate., (© 2022 Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

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., (© 2022. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Aim: After total mesorectal excision (TME) for low rectal cancer, current guideline recommendations for sphincter-saving surgery are to perform a side-to-end manual coloanal anastomosis (CAA) (or with J-pouch) with a temporary stoma. Our study aimed to evaluate if delayed pull-through coloanal anastomosis (DCAA) without a temporary stoma could represent a safe alternative in low rectal cancer., Method: From 2003 to 2020, 223 consecutive patients with low rectal cancer undergoing TME were compared: CAA and diverting stoma (n = 190) versus DCAA without stoma (n = 33)., Results: Overall 3-month and severe (Dindo ≥ IIIb) morbidity rates were similar in CAA versus DCAA groups: 34% (65/190) vs. 36% (12/33) and 2.6% (5/190) vs. 3% (1/33), respectively. In the DCAA group, only one patient (3%) underwent reoperation (Hartmann's procedure) at day 3 due to colon necrosis. The anastomotic leakage rate (both clinical and radiological) was significantly higher after CAA than DCAA: 28% (53/190) vs. 3% (1/33; p = 0.00138). Failure of the procedure (with return to stoma) was observed in 8% (15/190) vs. 6% (2/33) of patients after CAA and DCAA respectively (not significant)., Conclusion: Our comparative study suggested that in patients with low rectal cancer, DCAA without a temporary stoma could represent an interesting alternative to the actual recommended CAA with a temporary ileostomy. DCAA could offer two major advantages over CAA: a significantly lower rate of anastomotic leakage and absence of a temporary stoma and its potential complications (rehospitalization, dehydration, wound hernia after stoma closure)., (© 2022 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Purpose: Colorectal redo surgery is well known to be a difficult procedure, associated with a high risk of failure. The aim of this study was to look into patients presenting two consecutive failed colorectal (CRA) or coloanal (CAA) anastomosis who underwent a second redo surgery (i.e., third anastomosis)., Methods: A retrospective study based on a prospective database of second redo surgeries of CRA or CAA, in an expert center. Sixteen patients between 2005 and 2020 were analyzed., Results: After a mean follow-up of 28 ± 26 months, success of surgery (defined as no stoma at the end of follow-up) was reported in 10/16 patients (63%). One patient with chronic anastomotic leakage and another with early colonic ischemia had no defunctioning stoma reversal. In the remaining four patients with a failed second redo surgery, a definitive stoma was ultimately created for fistula recurrence (n = 1), poor functional results (n = 2), or local cancer recurrence (n = 1). Two risk factors for failure of this second redo surgery were significantly found in a univariate analysis: (1) nature of the primary anastomosis: 3/13 s redo surgeries failed (23%) if a CRA was first made and 3/3 (100%) if it was a CAA (p = 0.036); (2) age: patients with a failed second redo surgery were older (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: A 63% rate of success of second redo surgery was observed after two failed CRA or CAA. Although a demanding procedure, it can be proposed to carefully selected and motivated patients., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a discharge strategy driven by monitoring of C-reactive protein (CRP) in a homogeneous group of patients undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer (TME)., Method: One hundred and thirteen patients who underwent a TME had CRP monitoring on postoperative day (POD) 5. Patients were discharged on POD 6 if the CRP level was ≤100 mg/L. Patients were matched (according to age, gender, body mass index, neoadjuvant pelvic irradiation and type of anastomosis) to 123 control patients who underwent the same operation with the same postoperative care but without CRP monitoring., Results: Postoperative 3-month overall [CRP group 62/113 (55%) vs controls 73/123 (59%); p = 0.487] and severe (i.e. Clavien-Dindo grade 3 and above) [CRP group 17/113 (15%) vs controls 19/123 (15%); p = 0.931] morbidity rates were similar between groups. Mean length of hospital stay (LHS) was significantly shorter in the CRP group (CRP group 9.7 ± 14 days vs controls 11.6 ± 7 days; p < 0.001). Discharge occurred on POD 6 in 55/113 (49%) patients from the CRP group vs 7/123 (6%) from the control group (p < 0.001). The rehospitalization rate [CRP group 19/113 (17%) vs controls 13/123 (11%); p = 0.177] was similar between groups. The CRP level on POD 5 had a diagnostic property to assess an anastomotic leakage with an area under the curve of 0.81., Conclusion: In patients who underwent TME, a discharge strategy based on CRP monitoring significantly decreased LHS without increasing morbidity, mortality or rehospitalization rates., (© 2021 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Purpose: The aim of medical treatment of severe acute colitis (SAC) complicating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is to avoid surgery, but in 20 to 50% of the cases, colectomy remains necessary. This study aimed to determine the impact of the different lines of medical therapy (i.e., steroids, anti-TNF, or ciclosporin) on postoperative course after laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for SAC complicating IBD., Methods: All the patients who underwent laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for SAC were included and divided into two groups: those who presented with postoperative morbidity (group A) and those with an uneventful postoperative course (group B). Preoperative physical, endoscopic and radiological data, and medical treatments were compared between groups., Results: From 2006 to 2015, 65 consecutive patients (32 males, median age = 35 [17-87] years) operated for SAC were included. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 19 patients (29%, group A) and was mainly represented by surgical morbidity (n = 15), including ileus (n = 9), stoma-related complications (n = 5), and intra-abdominal abscess (n = 4). Lichtiger score, endoscopic and radiological evaluations were similar between groups. Patients with morbidity had more frequently presented two previous episodes of SAC (26%) than those without (7%, p = 0.04). Duration of anti-TNF treatment was more frequently longer than 2 months in group A (67%) than that in group B (14%, p = 0.04). No significant differences between groups were noted regarding other preoperative medical treatments and number of lines therapy., Conclusion: This study suggests that postoperative course after laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for SAC is affected by prolonged preoperative anti-TNF therapy, and in the case of recurrent SAC.

Aim: To evaluate the contribution of CT for the management of patients with severe acute exacerbation of colitis (SAC) complicating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); in particular, its contribution to surgical decision making., Method: All patients who were admitted to our institution for SAC complicating IBD were divided into two groups: group A (those who received surgical treatment); and group B (those who received medical treatment). Admission CT results were compared between groups., Results: From 2006 to 2015, 54 patients [26 male; median age 39 (17-71) years] presenting with SAC were placed in either group A (n = 41; 76%) or group B (n = 13; 24%). Surgical patients in group A more frequently had altered general status (50 vs 17%; P = 0.01). Physical examination, Lichtiger score, endoscopic findings and laboratory results were similar between the groups. There was no significant difference in CT data between the groups with respect to extent of the colitis (pan-colitis in 54 and 69%, respectively, P = 0.35), median colonic thickness [10 (4-16) vs 8 (6-11) mm, P = 0.15], target enhancement (88 vs 77%, P = 0.38) and occurrence of toxic megacolon (2 vs 0%)., Conclusion: Admission CT is not helpful in surgical decision making in SAC., (Colorectal Disease © 2017 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Background: Except in Budd-Chiari syndrome, alternative drainage pathways have been described rarely. The aim was to describe the alternative collaterals pathways due to tumor hepatic vein (HV) confluence obstruction and its impact in the setting of liver resection., Study Design: Between 2006 and 2014, preoperative CT scans of 41 patients resected for malignant tumor(s) compressing the HV confluence were assessed for the presence of accessory veins and collateral veins. A 2:1 matched control group was used for comparison of intraoperative outcomes., Results: Intrahepatic collaterals were observed in 28 (68%) patients, mostly between segments 3/4b and 5/4b, and subcapsular collaterals were observed in 12 (29%) patients. Patients with isolated right HV obstruction and with an accessory right HV present had fewer collateral pathways develop than patients without (6 of 10 patients [60%] vs 18 of 19 [95%]; p = 0.036). Segment 1 hypertrophy was present in only 6 (15%) patients. Compared with the control group, there was a significant increase in blood loss (900 mL [range 100 to 3,500 mL] vs 500 mL [range 100 to 2,600 mL]; p < 0.001), transfusion requirements (71% vs 15%; p < 0.001), and vascular clamping (hepatic pedicle: 85% vs 72%; p < 0.001, inferior vena cava: 41% vs 11%; p < 0.001) in case of HV obstruction., Conclusions: Development of collateral pathways is not fortuitous and depends on the number of HVs involved and pre-existing accessory veins. The increased blood loss observed in patients with collaterals leads to consider specific vascular clamping., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)