Quality of life, functional outcome, and complications of coloplasty pouch after low anterior resection.
OBJECTIVE
The colonic J-pouch has been used to improve bowel function in patients undergoing low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis. However, a narrow pelvis, difficulties in reach, a long anal canal with prominent sphincters, or a fatty mesentery may turn this technique into a technically challenging procedure in certain patients. In these circumstances, "coloplasty" offers an alternative to a straight anastomosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life, functional outcome, and complications between patients undergoing coloplasty, colonic J-pouch, or straight anastomosis.


METHODS
Altogether, 162 patients who underwent coloanal or low colorectal anastomosis between 1998 and 2001 were studied. Data collected included demographics, length of follow-up, technique and type of anastomosis, complications, quality of life, and functional outcome. Results were analyzed according to use of a coloplasty (n = 69), colonic J-pouch (n = 43), or straight anastomosis (n = 50). The choice of the technique was based on the surgeon's preference. Usually coloplasty or straight anastomosis was favored in male patients with a narrow pelvis or when a handsewn anastomosis was used.


RESULTS
Quality of life assessment with the short form-36 questionnaire revealed better scores in coloplasty and colonic J-pouch groups. The coloplasty (1.0 +/- 1.7) and colonic J-pouch (1.0 +/- 1.2) groups had fewer night bowel movements than the straight anastomosis group (1.5 +/- 2.0) (P < 0.05). The coloplasty group also had fewer bowel movements per day than the straight anastomosis group (3.8 +/- 2.9 vs. 4.8 +/- 3.6; P < 0.05); also, less clustering and less antidiarrheal medication use were observed than in the straight anastomosis group. Colonic J-pouch patients with handsewn anastomosis had a higher anastomotic leak rate (44 percent) than the patients in the coloplasty with handsewn anastomosis group (3.6 percent).


CONCLUSIONS
Coloplasty seems to be a safe, effective technique for improving the outcome of low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis. It is especially applicable when a colonic J-pouch anastomosis is technically difficult.
Remzi
Feza H
FH
Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. remzif@ccf.org
Fazio
Victor W
VW
Gorgun
Emre
E
Zutshi
Massarat
M
Church
James M
JM
Lavery
Ian C
IC
Hull
Tracy L
TL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D039021:Colonic Pouches / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013536:Suture Techniques