Benefits of Elective Laparoscopic 2-Stage Restorative Proctocolectomy for Ulcerative Colitis in Korea

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Ann Coloproctol. 2020;36(1):3-4
Publication date (electronic) : 2020 February 29
doi : https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.02.05
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Correspondence to: Won-Kyung Kang, M.D. Department of Surgery, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10 63 (yuksam)-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07345, Korea Tel: +82-2-3779-1033, Fax: +82-2-780-9114 E-mail: wonkkang@catholic.ac.kr

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Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a nonspecific inflammatory enteropathy characterized by bloody diarrhea accompanied by urgency and tenesmus. Approximately 15% of patients suffering UC develop acute attacks of severe colitis, and approximately 30% of these patients need colectomy [1]. Further, approximately 10% of patients first diagnosed with UC also need surgery [2]. Indications suggesting surgery for UC are as follows: (1) the major complication of acute severe ulcerative colitis (i.e., toxic megacolon, perforation, severe colorectal bleeding, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome); (2) refractory UC which includes both steroid dependency and immunomodulators, or biologic-refractory UC; (3) associated dysplasia and carcinoma [3].

Surgical approaches for UC vary widely from the open subtotal colectomy with end ileostomy to a laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) according to the severity of disease. For the cases of elective surgery indicated for refractory UC or for UC patients with dysplasia who have favorable general conditions, the employment of laparoscopic surgery can be considered. However, for cases of severe UC and emergency surgery, the feasibility of employment of the laparoscopic approach remains controversial [4].

Studies have compared the open- and laparoscopic surgical approaches for UC. Larson et al. [5] compared surgical groups that used laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) and open RPC among patients suffering from chronic UC and FAP. The laparoscopic group had a postoperative morbidity of 6% and the open group had 12%, which were not statistically different (P = 0.39). There were also no significant differences in terms of quality of life (P = 0.95). In a study conducted by Chung et al. [6], surgeons utilized laparoscopic- and open surgeries as the initial operation among the 3-stage RPC procedures for severe UC. When surgery types were compared to each other, the postoperative morbidity for the laparoscopic approach appeared significantly lower than open surgery (24% and 53%, respectively; P = 0.0386) together with a significantly shorter time of bowel function recovery (2.6 days and 5.5 days, respectively; P = 0.0001). In some studies, laparoscopic surgery appeared to require more time than open surgery [7-9].

Bong et al.[10] compared the short-term outcomes of the open and laparoscopic approaches to 2-stage RPC for patients suffering from refractory UC and UC with dysplasia. The patients in the laparoscopic surgery group had lower mean body mass index (P = 0.025), shorter bowel function recovery time (P = 0.004), and less postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD 7 pain (P = 0.029 and P = 0.027, respectively), than those in the open surgery group. In terms of postoperative complications, there were no significant differences between groups. However, in regard to the appearance of ileus, the laparoscopic surgery patient group had significantly fewer cases of ileus than the open surgery group (7.7% vs. 27.7%, P = 0.043).

In summary, laparoscopic RPC seems comparable to open RPC for UC; and in cases of severe UC outside the emergency setting, the selection of the laparoscopic approach as an alternative to open surgery seems feasible. Further, when laparoscopic surgery is used initially, but surgery time extends too long due to patient deteriorating condition or severe accretion due to inflammation, the selection of open conversion is another alternative that can be considered. Thus, laparoscopic RPC for selected UC cases can make use of the advantages of general laparoscopic approaches as a favorable treatment option. Currently, several hospitals are trying to take laparoscopic approaches for UC in Korea, but the consequences thereof are yet to be reported; the results presented in this study can be regarded as one such significant report.

Notes

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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