Quality of life after surgical therapy of small bowel stenosis in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Improvement in quality of life is one of the important determinants in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Since there is no cure with radical resection of inflamed bowel, strictureplasty has become a useful surgical technique in the treatment of small bowel obstruction. The scope of this study was to define the results of strictureplasty and resection in terms of quality of life, surgical recurrence and postoperative complications. METHODS: The charts of 67 patients with Crohn's disease of the small bowel were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were treated either by strictureplasty (group A) or resection (group B). Quality of life was evaluated in follow-up examinations using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). RESULTS: Postoperative morbidity was 14.8% after strictureplasty and 17% after resection (p = 0.8). 50% of the patients treated by strictureplasty and 37% treated by resection developed recurrent disease (p = 0.40). Quality-of-life measurement revealed no significant difference between patients treated by strictureplasty or resection. CONCLUSION: Results after strictureplasty are comparable to those after resection in terms of complications, recurrence and quality of life in the treatment of small bowel strictures in Crohn's disease. In the long run there might be an advantage for strictureplasty because it prevents complications caused by resectional therapy such as short bowel syndrome.     

Intervention-free Interval following Strictureplasty for Crohn’s Disease

Introduction Strictureplasty is now well established as a bowel-sparing alternative for surgical treatment of complicated Crohn’s disease. Limited resection is still preferred in patients with uncomplicated disease, as subsequent reoperation rates are low. Methods A retrospective review of 26 patients who underwent surgery for small bowel Crohn’s disease between 1996 and 2004 was undertaken. A total of 96 small bowel strictureplasties had been performed; 19 patients had strictureplasties performed in isolation, and the remaining 7 patients underwent strictureplasty with concomitant limited resection. Results There was no operative mortality. The median follow-up was 41 months. Four patients developed complications that required further surgery. At 41 months, 73.3% of patients undergoing strictureplasty alone and 79.7% undergoing strictureplasty with concomitant resection were intervention-free. If followed up to 70 months or more, the same proportion of patients would remain intervention-free. Four patients developed further recrudescent disease and required surgery: strictureplasty, limited resection, or both. Of these patients, 25% were intervention-free at 41 months. Conclusions Our results show that strictureplasty alone or with concomitant resection can confer intervention-free periods of 41 months or more in 73.3% of patients, suggesting that strictureplasty can be utilized as an alternative to limited resection in uncomplicated Crohn’s disease.     

Analysis of risk factors-especially different types of plexitis-for postoperative relapse in Crohn's disease

AIM To evaluate the presence of submucosal and myenteric plexitis and its role in predicting postoperative recurrence.METHODS Data from all patients who underwent Crohn's disease(CD)-related resection at the University of Szeged, Hungary between 2004 and 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, smoking habits, previous resection, treatment before and after surgery, resection margins, neural fiber hyperplasia, submucosal and myenteric plexitis were evaluated as possible predictors of postoperative recurrence. Histological samples were analyzed blinded to the postoperative outcome and the clinical history of the patient. Plexitis was evaluated based on the appearance of the most severely inflamed ganglion or nerve bundle. Patients underwent regular follow-up with colonoscopy after surgery. Postoperativerecurrence was defined on the basis of endoscopic and clinical findings, and/or the need for additional surgical resection. RESULTS One hundred and four patients were enrolled in the study. Ileocecal, colonic, and small bowel resection were performed in 73.1%, 22.1% and 4.8% of the cases, respectively. Mean disease duration at the time of surgery was 6.25 years. Twenty-six patients underwent previous CD-related surgery. Forty-three point two percent of the patients were on 5-aminosalicylate, 20% on corticosteroid, 68.3% on immunomodulant, and 4% on anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha postoperative treatment. Postoperative recurrence occurred in 61.5% of the patients; of them 39.1% had surgical recurrence. 92.2% of the recurrences developed within the first five years after the index surgery. Mean disease duration for endoscopic relapse was 2.19 years. The severity of submucosal plexitis was a predictor of the need for second surgery(OR = 1.267, 95%CI: 1.000-1.606, P = 0.050). Female gender(OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 0.98-5.00, P = 0.056), stricturing disease behavior(OR = 3.584, 95%CI: 1.344-9.559, P = 0.011), and isolated ileal localization(OR = 2.671, 95%CI: 1.033-6.910, P = 0.043) were also predictors of postoperative recurrence. No association was revealed between postoperative recurrence and smoking status, postoperative prophylactic treatment and the presence of myenteric plexitis and relapse.CONCLUSION The presence of severe submucosal plexitis with lymphocytes in the proximal resection margin is more likely to result in postoperative relapse in CD.     

Surgical volume and quality of care for esophageal resection: do high-volume hospitals have fewer complications?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that high-volume hospitals (HVHs) have lower mortality rates than low-volume hospitals (LVHs). However, little is known regarding the relationship of morbidity to hospital volume. The objective of the current study was to investigate the relative incidence of postoperative complications after esophageal resection at HVHs and LVHs. METHODS: All patients discharged from a nonfederal, acute-care hospital in Maryland after esophageal resection from 1994 to 1998 were included (n = 366). Rates of 10 postoperative complications were compared at HVHs and LVHs. Risk-adjusted analyses were performed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: High-volume hospitals had a mortality rate of 2.5% compared with 15.4% at LVHs (p < 0.001), with a case-mixed adjusted odds ratio (OR) of death equal to 5.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0 to 16; p < 0.001). Low-volume hospitals had a profound increase in the risk of several complications after adjusting for case-mix: renal failure (OR, 19; 95% CI, 1.9 to 178; p = 0.01), pulmonary failure (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to 14; p = 0.002), septicemia (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.1 to 15; p = 0.04), reintubation (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 6.1; p = 0.004), surgical complications (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.9; p = 0.001), and aspiration (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.3; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing esophageal resection at LVHs were at a markedly increased risk of postoperative complications and death. Pulmonary complications are particularly prevalent at LVHs and contribute to the death of patients having surgery at those centers.     

预防性中央区淋巴结清扫与甲状腺乳头状癌局部复发的Meta分析

目的:探讨预防性中央区淋巴结清扫(pCND)能否降低甲状腺乳头状癌术后的局部复发.方法:计算机检索国内外数据库中自2001年1月-2012年12月公开发表的有关甲状腺全切加pCND对比单纯甲状腺全切治疗甲状腺乳头状癌研究的文献,提取数据,行Meta分析.结果:最终纳入10个研究,共2 272例患者,其中甲状腺全切加pCND组897例,甲状腺全切组1 375例.Meta分析结果显示,甲状腺全切加pCND组较单纯甲状腺全切术组的总复发率(OR=0.73,95％ CI=0.49-1.07,P=0.11),中央区复发率(OR=0.92,95％ CI=0.33-2.51,P=0.86)及颈侧区复发率(OR=1.00,95％ CI=0.50-2.00,P=0.99)均无明显改善.结论:对于颈部淋巴结阴性(cNo)的甲状腺乳头状癌患者,预防性中央区淋巴结清扫不能减少术后复发率.     

单中心1048例克罗恩病手术患者临床特点及预后分析

目的探讨克罗恩病手术患者的临床特点、术后并发症相关因素和术后需手术干预复发的预后因素。方法回顾性分析2007年1月至2017年12月在东部战区总医院普通外科接受手术治疗的克罗恩病患者的临床资料,分析患者的蒙特利尔分型、手术指征、手术所见及手术方式等,采用Logistic回归分析术后并发症的相关因素,采用Cox比例风险模型分析术后需手术干预复发的预后因素。结果纳入符合条件的克罗恩病患者1048例,男性733例,女性315例。患者共接受手术治疗1513次,初次腹部手术时的中位年龄为31(17)岁,初次手术切除的小肠长度为30.0(40.0)cm。穿透型病变(OR=8.594,95%CI:3.397~21.740,P<0.01)和正在吸烟(OR=2.671,95%CI:1.044~6.832,P=0.040)是首次手术后腹腔感染性并发症相关因素,而分期手术(OR=0.360;95%CI:0.184~0.707,P=0.003)是保护性因素。男性(HR=1.500,95%CI:1.128~1.995,P=0.005),上消化道疾病(HR=1.526,95%CI:1.033~2.255,P=0.034),穿透型病变(HR=1.506,95%CI:1.132~2.003,P=0.005)和急诊手术(HR=1.812,95%CI:1.375~2.387,P<0.01)是首次手术后需手术干预复发的预后因素,分期手术较同期手术可降低该复发风险(HR=0.361,95%CI:0.227~0.574,P<0.01)。结论本组克罗恩病患者初次手术的中位年龄为31岁,切除小肠中位长度为30 cm。穿透型病变与术后感染性并发症和需手术干预复发相关,分期手术可能对术后并发症高风险患者产生近期和远期的获益。     

Multivariate analysis suggests improved perioperative outcome in Crohn's disease patients receiving immunomodulator therapy after segmental resection and/or strictureplasty

BACKGROUND: Medical management of moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) using immunomodulator agents has not eliminated surgical treatment of disease complications. The effect of improved medical treatment on perioperative CD surgical outcome is not known. We analyzed the impact of immunomodulator therapy on the rate of intraabdominal septic complications (IASC) in CD patients undergoing bowel reanastomosis or strictureplasty. METHODS: Surgical outcome was reviewed in 100 consecutive CD patients who underwent segmental resection with primary anastomosis or strictureplasty between 1998 and 2002. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the effect of immunomodulator therapy on rate of IASC (intraabdominal abscess, anastomotic leak, or enterocutaneous fistulae). Immunomodulator agents included azathioprine, 6-MP, methotrexate, and infliximab. RESULTS: IASC developed in 11 of 100 (11%) operations. Immunomodulator use was associated with fewer IASC (4/72 procedures; 5.6%), compared with 7/28 (25%) cases with patients not on therapy (P<.01). IASC were not influenced by steroid use, smoking status, preoperative abscess, or fistula or albumin levels. Immunomodulator use did not affect the length of resection or the rate and number of strictureplasties. CONCLUSION: Medical management with immunomodulator therapy is safe and significantly decreases postoperative IASC in CD patients undergoing surgical procedures requiring bowel anastomosis or strictureplasty.     

Side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty in the treatment of extensive Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: First performed in 1992, the side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS) is a bowel-sparing surgical option for Crohn's patients presenting with sequentially occurring stenoses over long intestinal segments (>15 cm). This investigation was designed to study the outcomes and patterns of recurrence after a SSIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2003, 30 patients underwent SSIS at the University of Chicago. Their data were gathered prospectively in an Institutional Review Board-approved database. RESULTS: A total of 31 SSISs were constructed in 30 patients. As an indication of the severity of disease in these patients, 25 of 30 (83%) required a concomitant bowel resection, and 13 (43%) underwent at least one additional strictureplasty. The average length of diseased bowel used to construct the SSIS was 51 cm. The average length of residual small bowel after performance of SSIS was 275 cm, and the SSIS represented an average 19% of the remaining small bowel that would have otherwise been sacrificed with resection. Three patients experienced perioperative complications (10%) and one died (3%). Seven patients (23%) required reoperation to treat recurrence of symptoms within the first 5 years. In four of these patients, recurrence was found at or near the previous SSIS. CONCLUSIONS: A side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS) is a safe and effective surgical option for sequentially occurring Crohn's strictures over long intestinal segments.     

肠部分切除后吻合方式对克罗恩病术后复发的影响

目的探讨克罗恩病（CD）患者实施肠切除肠吻合手术后,吻合方式对CD术后复发的影响。方法回顾性分析2002年1月至2010年1月在南京军区南京总医院行肠切除肠吻合术的94例CD患者的临床资料,比较实施侧侧吻合（SSA组,56例）与端侧或端端吻合（非SSA组,38例）两组患者的术后内镜复发和临床复发情况。结果SSA组和非SSA组术后1年和2年累计内镜复发率分别为10．7％、46．4％和29．2％、66．7％,差异有统计学意义（P=0．037）：两组术后1年和2年累计临床复发率分别为3．6％、8．9％和7．9％、21．1％,差异亦有统计学意义（P=0．041）。结论相对于端端和端侧吻合．CD患者在实施肠切除时行侧侧吻合能显著降低术后复发率：侧侧吻合可考虑作为CD肠切除后的首选吻合方式。     

术前糖皮质激素的使用剂量对炎症性肠病术后并发症的影响

【摘要】 目的 评价术前糖皮质激素的使用与否及不同剂量对炎症性肠病术后并发症的影响。方法 检索医学数据库中1970年后所有对比炎症性肠病患者术前应用糖皮质激素与否对术后并发症影响的文献。将符合文献质量评价标准的文献纳入后,根据研究的异质性分别采用固定效应模型或随机效应模型进行荟萃分析。结果 共有28项回顾性研究纳入分析。研究结果显示术前应用糖皮质激素明显增加术后总体并发症(OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.61-1.75,P=0.0007)及感染性并发症(OR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.49-3.49, P=0.0002)的发病率。而术前接受高剂量(>20 mg/d)糖皮质激素治疗的患者,术后总体并发症(OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.04-2.02, P=0.03)及感染性并发症(OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.05-3.95, P=0.04)的发病率均显著高于术前接受低剂量(<20 mg/d)糖皮质激素治疗的患者。结论〓术前糖皮质激素的使用增加炎症性肠病的术后总体并发症和感染性并发症的发病风险,术前将糖皮质激素降至20 mg/d以下将降低这个风险。     

肝内胆管癌根治性切除术后肿瘤复发转移的预后因素分析

目的：分析肝内胆管癌（IHCC）患者根治性切除术后肿瘤复发转移的危险因素。 方法：收集2002年1月—2008年5月行根治性切除手术治疗的125例IHCC患者的临床病理资料,分析全组患者术后无瘤生存率以及影响术后无瘤生存的不良预后因素。同时分析CA19-9水平与IHCC患者临床病理因素的关系。 结果：截至2013年5月,全组患者随访率为81%,中位随访时间30个月,109例患者出现肿瘤复发或转移。全组患者1、3、5年无瘤生存率分别为61.6%、27.2%、12.8%。多因素分析显示淋巴结转移（RR=3.990,95% CI=2.383~6.679,P<0.001）,肿瘤直径>5 cm（RR=1.78,95% CI=1.190~2.663,P=0.005）,CA19-9>200 U/mL（RR=1.734,95% CI=1.138~2.642,P=0.01）和多发肿瘤（RR=1.77,95% CI=1.114~2.812,P=0.016）是根治性切除术后影响肿瘤复发转移的独立危险因素。CA19-9浓度与淋巴结转移率密切相关（OR=3.208,95% CI=1.276~8.067,P=0.013）;CA19-9水平预测淋巴结转移的曲线下面积（AUC）达到0.696,灵敏度和特异度分别为75.0%和63.0%。 结论：淋巴结转移、肿瘤直径>5 cm、CA19-9>200 U/mL和多发肿瘤是IHCC患者根治术后复发转移的不良预后因素,且术前高CA19-9水平与淋巴结转移密切相关。

     

Rectal washout and local recurrence in rectal resection for cancer: a meta-analysis

Aim The effectiveness of rectal washout was compared with no washout for the prevention of local recurrence after anterior rectal resection for rectal cancer. Method The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, OVID Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EBM Reviews, CINAHL and EMBASE. Results Five nonrandomized studies including a total of 5012 patients were identified. Meta‐analysis suggested that rectal washout significantly reduced the local recurrence rate (P < 0.0001; OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.43–0.74). It was also significantly lower after washout in patients having radical resection only (P = 0.0004; OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.39–0.76), patients treated by a curative resection (P < 0.0001; OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.42–0.72) and those undergoing preoperative radiotherapy (P = 0.04; OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.39–0.98). Conclusion Taking into account the limitations of the design of the included studies the meta‐analysis showed that rectal washout is associated with reduced local recurrence and therefore should be routine during anterior resection for rectal cancer.     

Risk factors for surgery and postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of possible risk factors on intestinal resection and postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD) and to evaluate the disease course. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The results of previous studies on possible risk factors for surgery and recurrence in Crohn's disease have been inconsistent. Varying findings may be explained by referral biases and small numbers of patients in some studies. METHODS: Data on initial intestinal resection and postoperative recurrence were evaluated retrospectively in a population-based cohort of 1,936 patients. The influence of concomitant risk factors was assessed using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The cumulative rate of intestinal resection was 44%, 61%, and 71% at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis. Postoperative recurrences occurred in 33% and 44% at 5 and 10 years after resection. The relative risk of surgery was increased in patients with CD involving any part of the small bowel, in those having perianal fistulas, and in those who were 45 to 59 years of age at diagnosis. Female gender and perianal fistulas, as well as small bowel and continuous ileocolonic disease, increase the relative risk of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Three of four patients with CD will undergo an intestinal resection; half of them will ultimately relapse. The extent of disease at diagnosis and the presence of perianal fistulas have an impact on the risk of surgery and the risk of postoperative recurrence. Women run a higher risk of postoperative recurrence than men. The frequency of surgery has decreased over time, but the postoperative relapse rate remains unchanged.     

直肠癌新辅助治疗有效性与安全性的Meta分析

目的系统评价新辅助治疗在直肠癌中的治疗作用及其对术后并发症的影响。方法检索2010年5月前在PubMed．Ovid,WebofScience,Springer-Link,ElsevierScienceDirect等数据库已公开发表的比较直肠癌新辅助治疗与单纯手术或术后辅助治疗的随机对照试验（RCT）,并进行入选标准和质量评价．对符合标准的文献提取相关临床效应指标进行Meta分析。结果11篇RCT共7407例患者纳入分析．新辅助治疗组3685例,对照组为3722例。直肠癌新辅助治疗组局部复发率（OR=O．43,95％CI：0．37-0．50,P〈0．01）、远处转移率（OR=0．85,95％CI：0．76-0．95,P〈0．01）、5年生存率（RR=1．15,95％CI：1．04-1．28,P〈0．01）及保肛手术率（RR=I．48,95％CI：1．17-1．87,P〈0．01）均优于对照组,差异有统计学意义,但术后死亡率（DR=1．20,95％CI：0．68-2．13,P=0．53）及吻合口并发症发生率（OR=1．04,95％CI：0．73-1．48,P=0．84）的差异无统计学意义。结论直肠癌新辅助治疗有利于控制局部及远处复发．提高远期生存,未明显增加术后并发症的发生率。     

Safety and longterm efficacy of strictureplasty in 314 patients with obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Since its introduction in the early 1980s, strictureplasty (SXP) has become a viable option in the surgical management of obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease. Questions still remain regarding its safety and longterm durability in comparison to resection. Precise indications and contraindications to the procedure are also not well defined. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing SXP for obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease at the Cleveland Clinic between 1984 and 1999 was conducted. A total of 314 patients underwent a laparotomy that included the index SXP The total number of SXPs performed was 1,124, with a median of two (range 1 to 19) per patient. Sixty-six percent of patients underwent a synchronous bowel resection. Recurrence was defined as the need for reoperation. Followup information was determined by personal interviews, phone interviews, or both. RESULTS: The overall morbidity rate was 18%, with septic complications occurring in 5% of patients. Preoperative weight loss (p = 0.004) and older age (p = 0.008) were found to be significant predictors of morbidity. The surgical recurrence rate was 34%, with a median followup period of 7.5 years (range 1 to 16 years). Age was found to be a significant predictor of recurrence (p = 0.02), with younger patients having a shorter time to reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: This large series of patients with longterm followup confirms the safety and efficacy of strictureplasty in patients with obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease. The 18% morbidity and 34% operative recurrence rates compare favorably with reported results of resective surgery. Caution should be used in patients with preoperative weight loss, because they experienced higher complication rates. Although young patients seem to follow an accelerated course, SXP remains indicated as part of an overall strategy to conserve intestinal length.     

Risk for stroke after elective noncarotid vascular surgery

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing operations to treat peripheral vascular disease have systemic atherosclerosis and are at risk for stroke. However, the incidence and effect of cerebrovascular events on noncarotid vascular surgical outcomes are not well-defined. METHODS: Patients undergoing common operations for vascular disease from 1997 to 2000 were examined with data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Surgery Quality Improvement Project and the VA patient treatment files. Operations studied included abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy (n = 2551), aortobifemoral bypass (n = 2616), lower extremity bypass (n = 6866), and major lower extremity amputation (n = 7442). The incidence of perioperative stroke was determined, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for stroke. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to quantify the effect of postoperative stroke on adjusted mortality and length of stay. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were defined. P <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Stroke was uncommon after noncarotid vascular procedures, occurring in only 0.4% to 0.6% of patients. Independent risk factors for stroke include preoperative ventilation (OR, 11; 95% CI, 5.0-22.3; P <.001), previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.7-6.4; P <.001), postoperative myocardial infarction (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.3-8.7; P =.009), and need to return to the operating room (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.5; P =.001). Factors that did not appear to be associated with stroke risk included procedure type, diabetes, renal failure, dialysis dependence, number of transfused units of blood, and hypertension. After controlling for other postoperative complications and comorbid conditions, postoperative stroke significantly increased the risk for perioperative mortality (OR, 6.3; 95% CI, 3.4-11.4; P <.001), with similar magnitude as postoperative myocardial infarction (OR, 6.3; 95% CI, 3.9-10.1; P <.001). Stroke was also associated with a 48% increase in overall length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke after noncarotid peripheral vascular surgery is uncommon, but results in markedly increased mortality and length of stay. Stroke risk is most strongly associated with previous stroke history and greater degree of illness. Patients with these associated conditions deserve particular attention to assessing and medically managing modifiable risk factors.     

Long-term results of strictureplasty for ileocolonic anastomotic recurrence in Crohn’s Disease

This study examined the outcome of strictureplasty for recurrence at the ileocolonic anastomosis after resection (ileocolonic strictureplasty) in Crohn’s disease. The records of 42 patients who underwent ileocolonic strictureplasty between 1980 and 1997 were reviewed. The method of ileocolonic strictureplasty was Heineke-Mikulicz reconstruction for a short stricture (<-6 cm) in 41 patients and Finney reconstruction for a long stricture (20 cm) in one. Synchronous operations were performed for coexisting small bowel Crohn’s disease in 17 patients: strictureplasty in eight, resection in two, and both in seven. Postoperatively there were two intra-abdominal abscesses, which were treated conservatively. There were no deaths. All except two patients had complete relief of symptoms after operation. Most of the patients who had preoperative weight loss gained weight (median gain +2.6 kg). After a median follow-up of 99 months, 24 patients (57%) had a symptomatic recurrence. Three patients were successfully managed by medical treatment. The other 21 patients (50%) required surgery for recurrence (20 for recurrence at the previous ileocolonic strictureplasty site). At present, two patients are symptomatic and currently receiving corticosteroid therapy. All other patients have had no recurrent symptoms. None of the patients have developed short bowel syndrome or small bowel carcinoma. Strictureplasty is a safe and efficacious procedure for ileocolonic anastomotic recurrence in Crohn’s disease.     

Obesity in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery is associated with increased postoperative morbidity

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that obesity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, many studies have failed to demonstrate that obesity is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The authors investigated the influence of obesity on adverse postoperative outcomes in diabetic and nondiabetic patients after primary coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 9,862) between January 1995 and December 2004 at the Texas Heart Institute was performed. Diabetic (n = 3,374) and nondiabetic patients (n = 6,488) were classified into five groups, according to their body mass index: normal weight (n = 2,148), overweight (n = 4,257), mild obesity (n = 2,298), moderate obesity (n = 785), or morbid obesity (n = 338). Multivariate, stepwise logistic regression was performed controlling for patient demographics, medical history, and preoperative medications to determine whether obesity was independently associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Obesity in nondiabetic patients was not independently associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. In contrast, obesity in diabetic patients was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative respiratory failure (odds ratio [OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-3.61; P < 0.001), ventricular tachycardia (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.18-4.35; P < 0.02), atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03-2.38; P < 0.04), atrial flutter (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.29-4.40; P < 0.01), renal insufficiency (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.10-3.41; P < 0.03), and leg wound infection (OR, 5.34; 95% CI, 2.27-12.54; P < 0.001). Obesity in diabetic patients was not independently associated with an increased risk of mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, sepsis, or sternal wound infection. CONCLUSION: Obesity in diabetic patients is an independent predictor of worsened postoperative outcomes after primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery.     

Effect of resection margins on the recurrence of Crohn's disease in the small bowel. A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The authors assess the effect of surgical margin width on recurrence rates after intestinal resection of Crohn's Disease (CD). BACKGROUND: The optimal width of margins when resecting DC of the small bowel is controversial. Most studies have been retrospective and have had conflicting results. METHODS: Patients undergoing ileocolic resection for CD (N = 152) were randomly assigned to two groups in which the proximal line of resection was 2 cm (limited resection) or 12 cm (extended resection) from the macroscopically involved area. Patients also were classified by whether the margin of resection was microscopically normal (category 1), contained nonspecific changes (category 2), were suggestive but not diagnostic for CD (category 3), or were diagnostic for CD (category 4). Recurrence was defined as reoperation for recurrent preanastomotic disease. RESULTS: Data were collected on 131 patients. Median follow-up time was 55.7 months. Disease recurred in 29 patients: 25% of patients in the limited resection group and 18% of patients in the extended resection group. In the 90 patients in category 1 with normal tissue, recurrence occurred in 16, whereas in the 41 patients with some degree of microscopic involvement, recurrence occurred in 13. Recurrence rates were 36% in category 2, 39% in category 3, and 21% in category 4. No group differences were statistically at the 0.01 level. CONCLUSION: Recurrence of CD is unaffected by the width of the margin of resection from macroscopically involved bowel. Recurrence rates also do not increase when microscopic CD is present at the resection margins. Therefore, extensive resection margins are unnecessary.     

Crohn's disease patients carrying Nod2/CARD15 gene variants have an increased and early need for first surgery due to stricturing disease and higher rate of surgical recurrence

OBJECTIVE: To study the predictive value of Nod2/CARD15 gene variants along with disease phenotypic characteristics for requirement of initial surgery and for surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Nod2/CARD15 gene variants play an important role in the susceptibility to CD. Studies of genotype-phenotype relationship suggest that these variants are associated with development of intestinal strictures. Preliminary reports analyzing the association between these variants and need for surgery have produced inconsistent results. METHODS: A total of 170 CD patients were included prospectively in the study and followed up regularly for a mean of 7.4 +/- 6.1 years. Clinical characteristics of CD, time and indication for surgery, and recurrence were registered. Nod2/CARD15 gene variants were determined by DNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Surgery for stricturing disease was significantly more frequent in patients with Nod2/CARD15 variants in the univariate analysis (odds ratio [OR], 3.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-9.27), and it was required at an earlier time (P = 0.004). Only Nod2/CARD15 variants (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.21-10.5) and stricturing phenotype at diagnosis of CD (OR, 9.34; 95% CI, 2.56-33.3) were independent predictive factors of initial surgery for stricturing lesions in the multivariate analysis. Among 70 patients that required surgery, postoperative recurrence was also more frequent in patients with Nod2/CARD15 variants in the univariate and multivariate analysis (OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.13-9.56), and reoperation was needed at an earlier time (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Nod2/CARD15 variants are associated with early initial surgery due to stenosis and with surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease. Patients with these variants could benefit from preventive and/or early therapeutic strategies.