J.-L. Faucheron’s research while affiliated with Grenoble Alpes University and other places

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol has been introduced over the past three decades for patients undergoing colorectal surgery. However, the effect of this program on long-term survival is poorly studied. We evaluated the effect of ERAS on 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after colorectal cancer surgery, and identified risk factors. This retrospective study used data from the comparison of oncological outcomes at 3 years after ERAS or conventional care (pre-ERAS), conducted in our department between 2005 and 2017, and published in 2022. A total of 981 patients were included (ERAS, n = 486; pre-ERAS, n = 495). The 5-year OS and RFS rates were similar in the ERAS and pre-ERAS groups, respectively (63.3% [58.9; 67.4] vs 57.7% [53.2; 61.9]; p = 0.055) and (69.5% [65.2; 73.4] vs 70.9% [66.6; 74.8]; p = 0.365). The 5-year OS result was confirmed by a propensity score analysis (HR 0.98 [0.71; 1.37], p = 0.911). Analysis of 5-year survival by a multivariate Cox model identified age (HR 1.28 [1.15; 1.43]), BMI < 18.5 (HR 1.62 [1.08; 2.45]), smoking (HR 1.68 [1.26; 2.24]), ASA score > 2 (HR 1.56 [1.22; 1.98]), and laparotomy interventions (HR 2.06 [1.61; 2.63]) as risk factors for death. Regarding RFS, multivariate analysis adjusted on the ERAS group identified age as a protective factor with a reduction of 10% in the risk of recurrence (HR 0.90 [0.81–0.99]). In contrast patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a higher risk of recurrence (HR 1.41 [1.07–1.85]). This study failed to demonstrate any advantage of the ERAS program in improving 5-year OS and RFS after colorectal cancer surgery. Age, undernutrition, smoking, ASA score > 2, and laparotomy interventions are independently associated with early mortality.

Bladder drainage is systematically used in rectal cancer surgery; however, the optimal type of drainage, transurethral catheterization (TUC) or suprapubic catheterization (SPC), is still controversial. The aim was to compare the rates of urinary tract infection on the fourth postoperative day (POD4) between TUC and SPC, after rectal cancer surgery regardless of the day of removal of the urinary drain. This randomized clinical trial in 19 expert colorectal surgery centers in France and Belgium was performed between October 2016 and October 2019 and included 240 men (with normal or subnormal voiding function) undergoing mesorectal excision with low anastomosis for rectal cancer. Patients were followed at postoperative days 4, 30, and 180. In 208 patients (median age 66 years [IQR 58–71]) randomized to TUC (n = 99) or SPC (n = 109), the rate of urinary infection at POD4 was not significantly different whatever the type of drainage (11/99 (11.1%) vs. 8/109 (7.3%), 95% CI, − 4.2% to 11.7%; p = 0.35). There was significantly more pyuria in the TUC group (79/99 (79.0%) vs. (60/109 (60.9%), 95% CI, 5.7–30.0%; p = 0.004). No difference in bacteriuria was observed between the groups. Patients in the TUC group had a shorter duration of catheterization (median 4 [2–5] vs. 4 [3–5] days; p = 0.002). Drainage complications were more frequent in the SPC group at all followup visits. TUC should be preferred over SPC in male patients undergoing surgery for mid and/or lower rectal cancers, owing to the lower rate of complications and shorter duration of catheterization. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02922647.

Background Most of the patients undergoing bowel resection for Crohn’s disease (CD) develop postoperative recurrence requiring medical treatment intensification or surgery. Is there a subgroup of patients for which surgery allows durable remission? Methods In this retrospective follow-up study, we collected data from 592 patients undergoing ileocolic resection for CD who were included from 2013 to 2015 in a prospective nation-wide cohort of the GETAID Chirurgie group. Patients with follow-up superior to 36 months were included. Primary outcome was durable remission, defined as the absence of endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts ≥i2) and/or absence of medical treatment intensification. Uni- and multivariate analyses of the predictive factors for durable remission were carried out. Results Among 268 included patients, 158 (59%) had a B2 stricturing phenotype, 92 (34%) had a B3 penetrating phenotype and 18 (7%) had a non-stricturing non-perforating phenotype (Montreal classification). One hundred and eighty-eight patients (70%) had a primary ileocolic resection. One hundred and sixty-seven patients (66%) had postoperative medical treatment to prevent postoperative recurrence (Table 1). After a median follow-up of 85 (36-104) months, 52 patients (19%) had a durable remission, among which 24 (46%) had no medical treatment and 28 (54%) maintained the same postoperative prophylactic treatment, including anti-TNF therapy in 15 patients (54%) (Table 2). Durable remission rate was significantly increased in B1 phenotype vs B2/B3 (n=7/18 ;39% vs n=45/250; 18%, p=0.030) and in primary ileocolic resection vs redo ileocolic resection (n=43/184 ; 23% vs n=9/80 ; 11%, p=0.023). In multivariate analysis, B1 phenotype was an independent predictive factor for durable remission (OR=3.59, IC95%[1.13-11.37], p=0.030) (Table 3). Conclusion These long-term data obtained from a nation-wide prospective cohort are in line with those of a randomised controlled trial (LIR!C) and show that durable remission is obtained in nearly 40% of CD patients with non-stricturing non-penetrating phenotype operated for CD refractory to medical treatment. This important result should be considered when medical treatment intensification versus surgery is discussed in these patients.

Background: Hartmann's reversal can be complicated by the presence of dense adhesions in the upper part of the abdominal cavity, difficulties in freeing the splenic flexure with the risk of splenic tears, a lack of sufficient colonic length, the risk of ureteral lesion, or the risk of lesions of the vascular arcade. Methods: We propose a technique which consists of interposing an adapted segment of ileal loop between the end of the proximal colon and the rectum to restore intestinal continuity. Results: Two patients had Hartmann procedure, the first for a Hinchey stage 4 perforated diverticulitis and the second for a colorectal fistula due to ischemia of the proximal colonic segment. Hartmann's reversal was expected to be difficult, so a suspended ileal loop was used. The outcomes were uneventful, and functional results were satisfactory. Conclusions: A suspended ileal loop could be used as a salvage procedure in some cases of potentially difficult Hartmann's reversal.

Riassunto Al giorno d’oggi, la malattia di Hirschsprung è scoperta eccezionalmente in età adulta, di fronte a una stipsi ostinata che risale sempre alla prima infanzia. L’intervento è raccomandato per proteggere il paziente da gravi complicanze digestive. La preparazione in questa patologia deve essere drastica, per permettere di trattare la zona di acalasia e il colon irreversibilmente disteso, la cui lunghezza è stimata sul bilancio morfologico. Piuttosto che le operazioni classiche come quelle descritte da Duhamel, Swenson o Soave, è attualmente possibile proporre una resezione sigmoidorettale per via laparoscopica, seguita da un abbassamento transanale del colon sano, quindi da un’anastomosi coloanale differita di alcuni giorni: l’esteriorizzazione del pezzo operatorio è realizzata per via anale e il tempo necessario per eseguire l’anastomosi consente di affrancarsi da una stomia. Le cicatrici sono, quindi, molto discrete, il che è di grande interesse in questi pazienti spesso giovani.

Resumen En la actualidad, la enfermedad de Hirschsprung se descubre excepcionalmente en la edad adulta, ante un estreñimiento persistente que se remonta siempre a la primera infancia. Se recomienda la intervención para evitar al paciente las complicaciones digestivas graves. La preparación debe ser draconiana en esta enfermedad, para poder tratar la zona acalásica y el colon irreversiblemente distendido, cuya longitud se estima en el estudio morfológico. En lugar de las operaciones clásicas como las descritas por Duhamel, Swenson o Soave, actualmente es posible proponer una resección sigmoidorrectal por vía laparoscópica, seguida de un descenso transanal del colon sano y posterior anastomosis coloanal diferida unos días; la exteriorización de la pieza operatoria se realiza por vía anal y el plazo de confección de la anastomosis permite prescindir de una ostomía. De esta forma, las cicatrices son muy discretas, lo cual es de un gran interés en estos pacientes, a menudo jóvenes.

Background Management of rectovaginal fistula (RVF) in Crohn’s disease (CD) is challenging. Available studies are heterogeneous and retrospective, with short-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to assess the overall long-term medico-surgical treatment results in women with RVF due to CD.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients operated on for RVF in CD from September 1996 to November 2019 at a tertiary teaching hospital. All surgeries were classified as preliminary, closure, or salvage procedures. Primary outcome was fistula remission defined as the combination of fistula closure and no stoma, at least 6 months since last procedure.ResultsThirty-two patients (median age 34 [range 21–55] years), with a median follow-up of 11.3 years (0–23.7) after first surgery, were included. Altogether, 138 procedures were performed; 36 (26%) preliminary, 80 (58%) closure, and 13 (9%) salvage procedures. RVF remission was obtained in 7/32 patients (22%). At the end of follow-up, a stoma was present in 13/32 patients (41%). The percentage of time on biologics was 86% for patients in remission, versus 36% for the others (p = 0.0057). After univariate analysis, only anti-TNF-α was significantly related to successful closure techniques (p = 0.007).Conclusions The RVF remission rate in CD was low in the long term. However, patients underwent a succession of interventions, and the stoma rate was high. Combination of biologics with surgical management was crucial.

Introduction Postoperative ileus(POI) and anastomotic leakage(AL) are highly associated but the direction of this link is unknown. Indeed, it has traditionally been stated that AL leads to POI(secondary POI). The objective was to statistically determine the best model of link between POI and AL by comparing different Structural Equation Models(SEM). Methods This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective multicentric database from the Francophone Group for Enhanced Recovery after surgery(GRACE) including patients undergoing colorectal resection or Hartmann reversal between 2014 and 2017. The main outcome measure was the occurrence of postoperative ileus defined by the absence of Gastrointestinal (GI)-3 recovery in or after postoperative day 4 and the occurrence of AL. Results Among the 2227 patients included, 223 patients experienced POI (10 %) and 72 patients experienced anastomotic leakage (3.2 %). In all the models, POI was significantly increased in case of male gender, older age, opioids consumption, right colectomy, chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy disease and performance of a stoma, and reduced by Enhanced Recovery Programs (ERP) compliance ≥ 70 % and intake of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Open surgery was not significantly associated with POI in all the models. In contrast, the male gender was the only factor increasing AL in the model drawn with ERP risk factors for AL. In all the models, POI was highly associated with AL and statistical analyses advocate for POI leading to AL. Conclusion The findings of the present large study suggest that the more statistically probable model is the one in which POI come first before AL.