Surgical repair and biological therapy for fecal incontinence in Crohn's disease involving both sphincter defects and complex fistulas

Background and aims

Surgeons have traditionally tried to avoid any complex surgical procedures in Crohn's patients with complex perianal diseases because of the fear of complications, worsening the patient's condition and risking an eventual proctectomy. The introduction of biological therapy has changed the management of Crohn's disease. This study assesses the long-term success of addressing defects in anal sphincter and complex fistula when patients receive anti-TNF-α antibodies.

Methods

Ten consecutive patients were prospectively scheduled for induction therapy with 5 mg/kg Infliximab at week 0, 2 and 6 and maintenance every 8 weeks associated with azathioprine. Elective surgery was performed conducting a simultaneous approach to the sphincter defect and fistula tracts. Outcomes were long-term continence, complications which were assessed by a Wexner's score along with a complementary questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using general linear model of repeated measures.

Results

Three patients had complications related to surgery: two abscesses and low intersphincteric fistula and one case of rectal stenosis causing fecal urgency. There was no suture dehiscence. Wexner's score improved at 12 months (10.0 ± 2.4 vs. 18.0 ± 2.6; p = 0.003) and over time (48 month 9.5 ± 2.8; p = 0.001). These scores were significantly worse when patients had urgency before treatment (12.8 ± 1.2 vs. 9.5 ± 2.8; p = 0.03) but not when the urgency appeared later. No patient remained incontinent to solid stools. Three patients had occasional incontinence to liquid stools associated to disease reactivation.

Conclusion

Surgical repair and immunomodulator therapy with infliximab could be an option in incontinent patients with Crohn's disease involving both a sphincter defect and severe or refractory fistulas.