Background Fecal diversion with an ileostomy is selectively used in cases of medically refractory Crohn’s proctocolitis or advanced perianal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical improvement after fecal diversion in Crohn’s disease (CD) and factors associated with clinical improvement. Methods A retrospective chart review of adult CD patients undergoing ileostomy formation for distal disease between 2000 and 2019 at 2 CD referral centers was conducted. The primary outcome was the rate of clinical improvement with diversion that allowed for successful restoration of intestinal continuity. Secondary outcomes included the rate of clinical and endoscopic improvement after fecal diversion, ileostomy morbidity, need for subsequent total proctocolectomy and end ileostomy, and factors associated with a clinical response to fecal diversion. Results A total of 132 patients with a median age of 36 years (interquartile range, 25–49) were included. Mean duration of disease was 16.2 years (10.4) years. Indication for surgery was medically refractory proctocolitis with perianal disease (n = 59; 45%), perianal disease alone (n = 24; 18%), colitis (n = 37; 28%), proctitis (n = 4; 3%), proctocolitis alone (n = 4; 3%), and ileitis with perianal disease (n = 4; 3%). Medications used before surgery included corticosteroids (n = 59; 45%), immunomodulators (n = 55; 42%) and biologics (n = 82; 62%). The clinical and endoscopic response to diversion was 43.2% (n = 57) and 23.9% (n = 16). At a median follow-up of 35.3 months (interquartile range, 10.6–74.5), 25 patients (19%) had improved and had ileostomy reversal, but 86 (65%) did not improve, with 50 (38%) undergoing total proctocolectomy for persistent symptoms. There were no significant predictors of clinical improvement. Conclusions The use of a “temporary” ileostomy is largely ineffective in achieving clinical response.

Up to 80% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients require surgery. Fecal diversion is used selectively in CD proctocolitis refractory to medical treatment or advanced perianal disease. This study examines associations between clinical features in predicting clinical response (CR) to fecal diversion in CD. Charts of CD patients undergoing fecal diversion for medically refractory disease or perianal disease were reviewed. Clinical response was assessed focusing on improvements in urgency, abdominal and perineal pain, decreased anal fistula drainage, and weight gain. Univariate binary logistic regression and multivariate forward-stepwise modeling analysis were used to determine associations with CR. The study cohort comprised 79 patients. After a median follow-up of 36 (3-192) months, 40 (51%) patients achieved a CR. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed both age at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05; confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.09; P = .007) and disease duration (HR .91; CI .86-.96; P = .001) to be significantly associated with CR. Later age of onset (HR 1.05; CI 1.01-1.10; P = .002) and shorter disease duration (HR .91; CI .86-.97; P = .02) remained significant on multivariate analysis. This largest reported series of fecal diversion for refractory CD in the biologic drug era revealed that young age at diagnosis and long disease duration are associated with a lower CR.

No abstract

Background Fecal diversion is now selectively used in cases of medically refractory Crohn’s proctocolitis or advanced perianal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of, and clinical factors, associated with the clinical response following faecal diversion in CD. Methods A retrospective chart review of adult CD patients undergoing an ileostomy for medically refractory distal disease (proctocolitis, perianal disease, segmental colitis, proctitis) between 2000 and 2019 at two inflammatory bowel disease centres was conducted. The primary outcome was the rate of clinical response; the secondary outcome was to assess factors associated with clinical response to faecal diversion. Results The study cohort of 98 patients had a median age of 40 (range, 19–84) years and included 50 females (51%). Median duration of disease was 15 (1–43) years. Indication for surgery was medically refractory proctocolitis and perianal disease (n = 48;49%), perianal disease alone (n = 34;35%), proctocolitis (n = 8;8%), segmental colitis (n = 5;5%), and proctitis alone (n = 3; 3%). Medications used before surgery included corticosteroids (n = 43;44%), immunomodulators (n = 33;34%) and biologics (n = 52;53%). Biologics used included adalimumab (n = 21), infliximab (n = 10, certolizumab (n = 8), vedolizumab (n = 8) and ustekinumab (n = 5). Only 16 (17%) patients were active smokers. Following ileostomy formation, 32 (33%) patients had a clinical response. The association between patient features and clinical response is shown in Table 1. Clinical response to fecal diversion was significantly decreased in the setting of proctocolitis with perianal disease (p = 0.005) and pre-diversion exposure to biologics (p = 0.04). Conclusion This largest report in the biologic era of faecal diversion for medically refractory CD proctocolitis or perianal disease showed that only 33% of patients achieved a clinical response. Both biologic uses before faecal diversion and diversion for proctocolitis with perianal disease were associated with a significantly lower clinical response.

No abstract