Annals of Coloproctology

Original Articles

Complications

Bedside endoscopic inspection of colorectal anastomoses in the early postoperative period: a 2-center prospective feasibility study: David J. Nijssen, Roel Hompes, Jurriaan Tuynman, Jimme K. Wiggers, Willem A. Bemelman, Saidah Sahid, James Kinross, Wytze Laméris; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(2):127-135. Published online April 14, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00584.0083

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery can reduce severe postoperative morbidity and ensure successful treatment. This study evaluated the feasibility of bedside endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis early postoperatively using a point-of-care digital rectoscope.
Methods
This prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary centers. Patients who underwent minimally invasive or open sphincter-preserving surgery with creation of a colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were included. Data were collected from December 2022 to October 2023. Bedside anastomotic inspections were performed postoperative day (POD) 3 to 5 using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as adequate clinical assessment of the anastomosis during bedside inspection. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerability, efficacy compared to other diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes during 90 days of follow-up.
Results
In total, 35 patients were included. All bedside anastomotic inspections were carried out successfully. The examination showed complete visibility of the entire anastomosis in 30 patients (85.7%), with minimal discomfort reported by 3 (8.6%). No adverse events were recorded. AL occurred in 6 patients (17.1%), with 3 cases detected during bedside inspections between POD 3 and 5. Two leaks were detected without clinical or biochemical suspicion. Three patients with negative rectoscopy between POD 3 and 5 were later diagnosed with AL: 2 by a computed tomography scan and 1 by a bedside rectoscopy.
Conclusion
Bedside inspection of rectal anastomoses early postoperatively is feasible and tolerable for patients. Routine anastomotic inspections can detect early AL even without clear clinical or biochemical signs.

Benign proctology,Surgical technique

Hemorrhoidectomy versus rubber band ligation in grade III hemorrhoidal disease: a large retrospective cohort study with long-term follow-up: Lisette Dekker, Michiel T.J. Bak, Willem A. Bemelman, Richelle J.F. Felt-Bersma, Ingrid J.M. Han-Geurts; Ann Coloproctol. 2022;38(2):146-152. Published online July 27, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.01011.0144

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2 Citations

Abstract PDF

Purpose
Standard therapy for grade III hemorrhoids is rubber band ligation (RBL) and hemorrhoidectomy. The long-term clinical and patient-reported outcomes of these treatments in a tertiary referral center for proctology were evaluated.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed in all patients with grade III hemorrhoids who were treated between January 2013 and August 2018. Medical history, symptoms, reinterventions, complications, and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROM) were retrieved from individual electronic patient files, which were prospectively entered as standard questionnaires in our clinic.
Results
Overall, 327 patients (163 males) were treated by either RBL (n=182) or hemorrhoidectomy (n=145). The median follow-up was 44 months. The severity of symptoms and patient preference led to the treatment of choice. The most commonly experienced symptoms were prolapse (83.2%) and blood loss (69.7%). Hemorrhoidectomy was effective in 95.9% of the cases as a single procedure, while a single RBL procedure was only effective in 51.6%. In the RBL group, 34.6% received a second RBL session. Complications were not significantly different, 11 (7.6%) after hemorrhoidectomy versus 6 (3.3%) after RBL. However, 4 fistulas developed after hemorrhoidectomy and none after RBL (P<0.05). The pre-procedure PROM score was higher in the hemorrhoidectomy group whereas the post-procedure PROM score did not significantly differ between the groups.
Conclusion
Treatment of grade III hemorrhoids usually requires more than one session RBL whereas 1-time hemorrhoidectomy suffices. Complications were more common after hemorrhoidectomy. The patient-related outcome did not differ between procedures.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Efficacy and Safety of a New Technique Combining Injection Sclerotherapy and External Hemorrhoidectomy for Prolapsed Hemorrhoids: A Single-center Observational Study
Tatsuya Abe, Masao Kunimoto, Yoshikazu Hachiro, Akane Ito, Kenji Watanabe, Shigenori Ota, Kei Ohara, Mitsuhiro Inagaki, Yusuke Saitoh, Masanori Murakami
Journal of the Anus, Rectum and Colon.2024; 8(4): 331. CrossRef
Ten-year multicentric retrospective analysis regarding postoperative complications and impact of comorbidities in hemorrhoidal surgery with literature review
Cosmin Moldovan, Elena Rusu, Daniel Cochior, Madalina Elena Toba, Horia Mocanu, Razvan Adam, Mirela Rimbu, Adrian Ghenea, Florin Savulescu, Daniela Godoroja, Florin Botea
World Journal of Clinical Cases.2023; 11(2): 366. CrossRef

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