Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Medical management of postoperative complications of inflammatory bowel disease: Pouchitis and crohn’s disease recurrence

  • Published:
Current Gastroenterology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Surgical intervention is often required for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical treatment of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis. The main long-term complication of this surgery is pouchitis, with 10-year cumulative incidence rates between 24% and 46%. For patients with Crohn’s disease, postoperative recurrence is a significant problem, with clinical recurrence rates as high as 55% at 5 years and 76% at 15 years. Increasing evidence suggests that postoperative medical therapy has the potential to decrease the risk of postoperative Crohn’s disease recurrence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Sachar DB: Indications for surgery in inflammatory bowel disease: a gastroenterologist’s opinion. In Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Edited by Kirsner JB. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2000:611–615.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sandborn WJ: Pouchitis following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: definition, pathogenesis, and treatment. Gastroenterology 1994, 107:1856–1860.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fazio VW, Ziv Y, Church JM, et al.: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis complications and function in 1005 patients. Ann Surg 1995, 222:120–127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Penna C, Dozois R, Tremaine W, et al.: Pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis occurs with increased frequency in patients with associated primary sclerosing cholangitis. Gut 1996, 38:234–239.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lohmuller JL, Perberton JH, Dozois RR, et al.: Pouchitis and extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Ann Surg 1990, 211:622–629.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Penna C, Tiret E, Kartheuser A, et al.: Function of ileal J pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Br J Surg 1993, 80:765–767.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tjandra JJ, Fazio VW, Church JM, et al.: Similar functional results after restorative proctocolectomy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and mucosal ulcerative colitis. Am J Surg 1993, 165:322–325.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Shen B, Achkar JP, Lashner BA, et al.: Endoscopic and histologic evaluation together with symptom assessment are required to diagnose pouchitis. Gastroenterology 2001, 121:261–267. A recent study demonstrating that symptom assessment alone is not enough for accurate diagnosis of pouchitis.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sandborn WJ, Tremaine WJ, Batts KP, et al.: Pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a pouchitis disease activity index. Mayo Clin Proc 1994, 69:409–415.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sandborn WJ: Pouchitis: risk factors, frequency, natural history, classification, and public health perspective. In Trends in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Edited by McLeod RS, Martin P, Sutherland LR, et al. Lancaster, UK: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1997:51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sandborn W, McLeod R, Jewell D: Medical therapy for induction and maintenance of remission in pouchitis: a systematic review. Inflamm Bowel Dis 1999, 5:33–39. An excellent overview of medical therapy for pouchitis.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sandborn W, McLeod R, Jewell D: Pharmacotherapy for inducing and maintaining remission in pouchitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000, 2:CD001176.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mowschenson PM, Critchlow JF, Peppercorn MA: Ileoanal pouch operation: long-term outcome with or without diverting ileostomy. Arch Surg 2000, 135:463–465.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Madden MV, McIntyre AS, Nicholls RJ: Double-blinded crossover trial of metronidazole versus placebo in chronic unremitting pouchitis. Dig Dis Sci 1994, 39:1193–1196.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hurst RD, Molinari M, Chung TP, et al.: Prospective study of the incidence, timing, and treatment of pouchitis in 104 consecutive patients after restorative proctocolectomy. Arch Surg 1996, 131:497–502.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gionchetti P, Rizzello F, Venturi A, et al.: Antibiotic combination therapy in patients with chronic, treatment resistant pouchitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1999, 13:713–718.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shen B, Achkar JP, Lashner BA, et al.: Ciprofloxacin is more effective in treating acute pouchitis than metronidazole: a randomized clinical trial [abstract]. Gastroenterology 2001, 120:A453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Shen B, Lashner BA, Achkar JP, et al.: Diagnostic strategies in symptomatic patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis [abstract]. Am J Gastroenterol 2001, 96:5308.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Schultz M, Sartor RB: Probiotics and inflammatory bowel diseases. Am J Gastroenterol 2000, 95(suppl):S19-S21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gionchetti P, Rizzello F, Venturi A, et al.: Oral bacteriotherapy as maintenance treatment in patients with chronic pouchitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Gastroenterology 2000, 119:305–309. An interesting study evaluating the use of a probiotic as maintenance therapy for pouchitis.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gionchetti P, Rizzello F, Venturi A, et al.: Prophylaxis of pouchitis onset with probiotic therapy: a double-blind, placebo controlled trial [abstract]. Gastroenterology 2000, 118:A190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Sartor RB: Probiotics in chronic pouchitis: restoring luminal microbial balance. Gastroenterology 2000, 119:584–585.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tremaine WJ, Sandborn WJ, Wolff BG, et al.: Bismuth carbomer foam enemas for active chronic pouchitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1997, 11:1041–1046.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wischmeyer P, Pemberton JH, Philips SF: Chronic pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: responses to butyrate and glutamine suppositories in a pilot study. Mayo Clin Proc 1993, 68:978–981.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rutgeerts P, Geboes K, Vantrappen G, et al.: Predictability of the postoperative course of Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1990, 99:956–963.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. McLeod RS, Wolff BG, Steinhart H, et al.: Risk and significance of endoscopic/radiologic evidence of recurrent Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1997, 113:1823–1827.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Borley NR, Mortensen NJ, Jewell DP: Preventing postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. Br J Surg 1997, 84:1493–1502.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Sachar DB: The problem of postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. Med Clin North Am 1990, 74:183–188.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Michelassi F, Balestracci T, Chappell R, et al.: Primary and recurrent Crohn’s: experience with 1379 patients. Ann Surg 1991, 214:230–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Heimann TM, Greenstein AJ, Lewis B, et al.: Prediction of early symptomatic recurrence after intestinal resection in Crohn’s disease. Ann Surg 1993, 218:294–299.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. D‘Haens GR, Gasparaitis AE, Hanauer SB: Duration of recurrent ileitis after ileocolonic resection correlates with presurgical extent of Crohn’s disease. Gut 1995, 36:715–717.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Greenstein AJ, Lachman P, Sachar DB, et al.: Perforating and non-perforating indications for repeated operations in Crohn’s disease: evidence for two clinical forms. Gut 1988, 29:588–592.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Lautenbach E, Berlin JA, Lichtenstein GR: Risk factors for early postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1998, 115:259–267.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. McDonald PJ, Fazio VW, Farmer RG, et al.: Perforating and nonperforating Crohn’s disease: an unpredictable guide to recurrence after surgery. Dis Colon Rectum 1989, 32:117–120.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Zelas P, Jagelman DG: Loop ileostomy in the management of Crohn’s colitis in the debilitated patient. Ann Surg 1980, 191:164–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Janowitz HD, Croen EC, Sachar DB: The role of the fecal stream in Crohn’s disease: an historical and analytic review. Inflamm Bowel Dis 1998, 4:29–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Rutgeerts P, Goboes K, Peeters M, et al.: Effect of faecal stream diversion on recurrence of Crohn’s disease in the neoterminal ileum. Lancet 1991, 338:771–774.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Sutherland LR, Ramcharan S, Bryant H, et al.: Effect of cigarette smoking on recurrence of Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1990, 98:1123–1128.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Cottone M, Rosselli M, Orlando A, et al.: Smoking habits and recurrence in Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1994, 106:643–648.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Achkar JP, Hanauer SB: Medical therapy to reduce postoperative Crohn’s disease recurrence. Am J Gastroenterol 2000, 95:1139–1146. A detailed review of prophylactic medical therapy following Crohn’s disease surgery.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Lochs H, Mayer M, Fleig WE, et al.: Prophylaxis of postoperative relapse in Crohn’s disease with mesalazine: European Cooperative Crohn’s disease study VI. Gastroenterology 2001, 118:264–273. The largest controlled study to date evaluating postoperative prophylaxis of Crohn’s disease recurrence.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Camma C, Giunta M, Rosselli M, et al.: 5-Aminosalicylic acid in the maintenance of Crohn’s disease: a meta-analysis adjusted for confounding variables. Gastroenterology 1997, 113:1465–1473.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Cottone M, Camma C: Mesalamine and relapse prevention in Crohn’s disease [letter]. Gastroenterology 2000, 119:597.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Rutgeerts P, Hiele M, Geboes K, et al.: Controlled trial of metronidazole treatment for prevention of Crohn’s recurrence after ileal resection. Gastroenterology 1995, 108:1617–1621.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Pearson DC, May GR, Fick G, et al.: Azathioprine for maintenance of remission of Crohn’s disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1993, 3:CD000067.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Korelitz B, Hanauer S, Rutgeerts P, et al.: Post-operative prophylaxis with 6-MP, 5-ASA or placebo in Crohn’s disease: a 2-year multicenter trial [abstract]. Gastroenterology 1998, 114:A1011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Lemann M, Cuillerier E, Bouhnik Y, et al.: Azathioprine for prevention of Crohn’s recurrence after ileal or colonic resection [abstract]. Gastroenterology 1996, 110:A948.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Korelitz BI, Adler DJ, Mendelsohn RA, et al.: Long-term experience with 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Am J Gastroenterol 1993, 88:1198–1205.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Steinhart AH, Ewe K, Griffiths AM, et al.: Corticosteroids for maintaining remission of Crohn’s disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000, 2:CD0030.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Hamedani R, Feldman RD, Feagan BG: Drug development in inflammatory bowel disease: budesonide — a model of targeted therapy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1997, 11(suppl 3):98–107.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Hellers G, Cortot A, Jewell D, et al.: Oral budesonide for prevention of postsurgical recurrence in Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1999, 116:294–300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Ewe K, Bottger T, Buhr HJ, et al.: Low-dose budesonide treatment for prevention of postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease: a multicenter randomized placebocontrolled trial. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1999, 11:277–282.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Caprilli R, Andreoli A, Capurso L, et al.: Oral mesalazine (Asacol) for the prevention of post-operative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1994, 8:35–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Brignola C, Cottone M, Pera A, et al.: Mesalamine in the prevention of endoscopic recurrence after intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1995, 108:345–349.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. McLeod RS, Wolff BG, Steinhart AH, et al.: Prophylactic mesalamine treatment decreases postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 1995, 109:404–413.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Achkar, JP., Shen, B. Medical management of postoperative complications of inflammatory bowel disease: Pouchitis and crohn’s disease recurrence. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 3, 484–490 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-001-0069-5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-001-0069-5

Keywords

Navigation