Ulcerative Colitis: Remzi F

Shen B, Wu H, Remzi F, Lopez R, Shen L, Fazio V. · Digestive Disease Institute, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. · Inflamm Bowel Dis. · Pubmed #18972552 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inflammatory and noninflammatory complications of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) are common after restorative proctocolectomy of ulcerative colitis (UC). Some of the patients can have upper gastrointestinal pathology. The diagnostic role of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in these patients has not been evaluated. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) diseases detected by EGD and to assess factors associated with the abnormal EGD findings. METHODS: IPAA patients with underlying inflammatory bowel disease undergoing diagnostic EGD were recruited from a subspecialty pouchitis clinic. Diagnostic yield and incidental findings of EGD were evaluated. Twenty-three variables were evaluated including age, gender, UC duration, IPAA duration, the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index scores, pouch type, pre-IPAA diagnosis, and disease category of the pouch. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed; stepwise selection with 0.35 and 0.10 as entry and exit criteria. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients undergoing EGD were enrolled in the study, of whom 64 (97%) patients had a concomitant pouch endoscopy. Indications for EGD include anemia, upper abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, and persistent diarrhea refractory to antibiotic therapy. Seventeen patients (25.8%) had a conclusive diagnosis and 14 (21.2%) had incidental findings, on EGD. The most common abnormal findings on EGD were Crohn's disease 12%), peptic ulcer disease (3%), gastritis/duodenitis on histology (11%), Candida esophagitis (3%), and arteriovenous malformations (3%). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with a conclusive EGD diagnosis were a high Pouchitis Disease Activity Index endoscopy score of the afferent limb (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 2.9; P = 0.02) and pouch types other than original J pouch (OR = 5.9; 95% CI: 1.08, 32.2; P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: EGD evaluation can yield valuable diagnostic information in selected symptomatic patients with IPAA.

Millan M, Hull TL, Hammel J, Remzi F. · Colorectal Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Bellvitge University Hospital, L' Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. · Dis Colon Rectum. · Pubmed #17701370 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: Portal vein thrombi have been observed after restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, and present as a clinical spectrum of abdominal pain, fever, and leukocytosis. Anticoagulation treatment is usually associated with resolution of symptoms. However, the long-term consequences and effect on pouch function are not known. The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term functional outcome of patients with confirmed portal vein thrombi after restorative proctocolectomy. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy from January 1997 to 2000 was performed. A case-control study was designed that matched 37 patients with confirmed portal vein thrombi in this period with 133 patients without portal vein thrombi; the groups were compared with respect to pouch function and quality of life by using the Global Cleveland Clinic Quality of Life Questionnaire for pelvic pouch patients. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 4.73 (range, 4.21-7.28) years. The percentage of male patients was 58.8. The most common diagnosis was ulcerative colitis (62.4 percent). There were no significant differences between portal vein thrombi patients and controls with respect to pouch function (number of bowel movements, urgency, incontinence), episodes of pouchitis, or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Portal vein thrombi can be a serious complication after restorative proctocolectomy that usually resolves with anticoagulation therapy. Long-term pouch function and quality of life are not affected.

Tekkis PP, Fazio VW, Remzi F, Heriot AG, Manilich E, Strong SA. · Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. · Br J Surg. · Pubmed #15988792 No free full text.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Pouch-related fistula occurs in 5-10 per cent of patients after restorative proctocolectomy. The present study identified risk factors associated with the development of such fistulas. METHODS: Data on preoperative and postoperative risk factors were recorded from 1965 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy in a single tertiary centre between 1983 and 2001. Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of pouch-perineal, pouch-abdominal wall and pouch-vaginal fistula during follow-up. RESULTS: Median patient follow-up was 4.1 (range 0-19) years. By 15 years' follow-up, pouch-vaginal fistulas had occurred in 44 women (5.2 per cent). The prevalence of ileal pouch-perineal and pouch-abdominal wall fistula was 3.6 per cent (70 patients) and 1.5 per cent (30 patients) respectively. Independent predictors of pouch-related fistula identified by multivariate analysis were diagnosis of indeterminate colitis or Crohn's disease (hazard ratio (HR) 1.28 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1.00 to 1.65) and 1.73 (95 per cent c.i. 1.07 to 3.48) respectively versus ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis), previous anal pathology (HR 3.43 (95 per cent c.i. 2.43 to 4.84) and 4.02 (95 per cent c.i. 1.27 to 12.77) respectively for perineal abscess and fistula in ano versus no previous anal pathology), abnormal anal manometry (HR 4.29 (95 per cent c.i. 2.33 to 7.91)), patient sex (HR 0.74 (95 per cent c.i. 0.58 to 0.95) for men versus women) and pelvic sepsis (HR 3.79 (95 per cent c.i. 2.48 to 5.79)). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Crohn's disease and the clinical signs that favour the diagnosis of Crohn's disease may contribute to the development of pouch-related fistula.

Fazio VW, Tekkis PP, Remzi F, Lavery IC, Manilich E, Connor J, Preen M, Delaney CP. · Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. · Ann Surg. · Pubmed #14530732 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with ileal pouch failure and to develop a multifactorial model for quantifying the risk of failure in individual patients.SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the treatment choice for most patients with ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis who require surgery. At present, there are no published studies that investigate collectively the interrelation of factors related to ileal pouch failure, nor are there any predictive indices for risk stratification of patients undergoing IPAA surgery. METHODS: Data from 23 preoperative, 7 intraoperative, and 10 postoperative risk factors were recorded from 1,965 patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy in a single center between 1983 and 2001. Primary end point was ileal pouch failure during the follow-up period of up to 19 years. The "CCF ileal pouch failure" model was developed using a parametric survival analysis and a 70%:30% split-sample validation technique for model training and testing. RESULTS: The median patient follow-up was 4.1 year (range, 0-19 years). Five-year ileal pouch survival was 95.6% (95% CI, 94.4-96.7). The following risk factors were found to be independent predictors of pouch survival and were used in the final multivariate model: patient diagnosis, prior anal pathology, abnormal anal manometry, patient comorbidity, pouch-perineal or pouch-vaginal fistulae, pelvic sepsis, anastomotic stricture and separation. The model accurately predicted the risk of ileal pouch failure with adequate calibration statistics (Hosmer Lemeshow chi2 = 3.001; P = 0.557) and an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 82.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The CCF ileal pouch failure model is a simple and accurate way of predicting the risk of ileal pouch failure in clinical practice on a longitudinal basis. It may play an important role in providing risk estimates for patients wishing to make informed choices on the type of treatment offered to them.

Shah NS, Remzi F, Massmann A, Baixauli J, Fazio VW. · Department of Colorectal Cancer, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA. · Dis Colon Rectum. · Pubmed #12847365 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the outcome of surgical management of pouch-vaginal fistulas in females who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy. METHODS: This study was designed as a retrospective chart review of females treated for pouch-vaginal fistulas from 1983 to 2000. All patients were followed up using our prospective pouch registry, with additional data collected by interview or mailed questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty females were identified (mean age, 33.3 +/- 1.3 years), of whom 33 had their initial restorative proctocolectomy done at our institution. Preoperative diagnosis was ulcerative colitis (88 percent), indeterminate colitis (10 percent), and familial adenomatous polyposis (2 percent). Average time to pouch-vaginal fistula following restorative proctocolectomy was 21 months (range, 1-132 months). Postoperative pelvic sepsis had occurred in 17 (28 percent) patients. Primary treatment modalities included the following: local repairs (n = 46, 77 percent), the majority of which were ileal advancement flaps; redo restorative proctocolectomy (n = 6, 10 percent); and pouch excision (n = 5, 8 percent). Initial healing was achieved in 20 patients. An additional 11 patients with recurrences healed after repeat procedures. The overall healing rate was 52 percent at 49.4 +/- 3.8 months follow-up. Pouch failure was the eventual outcome in 13 (22 percent) patients and 16 (27 percent) patients had persistent pouch-vaginal fistula. A delayed diagnosis of Crohn's disease was made in 24 patients. Crohn's disease patients had lower success rates following ileal advancement flaps compared with the non-Crohn's group (25 vs. 48 percent, respectively), much lower overall healing rates of their pouch-vaginal fistulas (17 vs. 75 percent, respectively), and a higher incidence of pouch failure (33 vs. 14 percent, respectively). CONCLUSION: Pouch-vaginal fistulas are a difficult problem in females following restorative proctocolectomy. However, local repair can be successful with good functional outcomes. Redo restorative proctocolectomy may also achieve healing if local repairs are not possible or have failed. A delayed diagnosis of Crohn's disease results in worse treatment outcome and higher pouch failure rates.

O'Riordain MG, Fazio VW, Lavery IC, Remzi F, Fabbri N, Meneu J, Goldblum J, Petras RE. · Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA. · Dis Colon Rectum. · Pubmed #11156448 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: Preservation of the anal transitional zone during ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is still controversial because of the risk of dysplasia and the theoretical risk of associated cancer. Without long-term follow-up data, the natural history and optimal treatment of anal transitional zone dysplasia are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term risk of dysplasia in the anal transitional zone and to evaluate the outcome of a conservative management policy for anal transitional zone dysplasia. METHODS: Two hundred ten patients undergoing anal transitional zone-sparing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative or indeterminate colitis between 1987 and 1992 and who were studied with serial anal transitional zone biopsies for at least five years postoperatively were included. Median follow up was 77 (range, 60-124) months. RESULTS: Anal transitional zone dysplasia developed in seven patients 4 to 51 (median, 11) months postoperatively. There was no association with gender, age, preoperative disease duration or extent of colitis, but the risk of anal transitional zone dysplasia was significantly increased in patients with prior cancer or dysplasia in the colon or rectum. Dysplasia was high grade in one and low grade in six. Two patients each with low-grade dysplasia detected on three separate occasions underwent mucosectomy 29 and 38 months after detection of low-grade dysplasia, but no cancer was found. The five other patients with dysplasia on one or two occasions were treated expectantly and were apparently dysplasia-free for a median of 72 (range, 48-100) months. CONCLUSIONS: Anal transitional zone dysplasia after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is infrequent, is most common in the first two to three years postoperatively and may apparently disappear on repeated biopsy. Anal transitional zone preservation did not lead to the development of cancer in the anal transitional zone after five to ten years of follow-up. Long-term surveillance is recommended to monitor dysplasia. If repeat biopsy confirms persistent dysplasia, anal transitional zone excision with neoileal pouch-anal anastomosis is recommended.