Postoperative course of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy is affected by prolonged preoperative anti-TNF therapy in patients with acute colitis complicating inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose: The aim of medical treatment of severe acute colitis (SAC) complicating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is to avoid surgery, but in 20 to 50% of the cases, colectomy remains necessary. This study aimed to determine the impact of the different lines of medical therapy (i.e., steroids, anti-TNF, or ciclosporin) on postoperative course after laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for SAC complicating IBD.

Methods: All the patients who underwent laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for SAC were included and divided into two groups: those who presented with postoperative morbidity (group A) and those with an uneventful postoperative course (group B). Preoperative physical, endoscopic and radiological data, and medical treatments were compared between groups.

Results: From 2006 to 2015, 65 consecutive patients (32 males, median age = 35 [17-87] years) operated for SAC were included. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 19 patients (29%, group A) and was mainly represented by surgical morbidity (n = 15), including ileus (n = 9), stoma-related complications (n = 5), and intra-abdominal abscess (n = 4). Lichtiger score, endoscopic and radiological evaluations were similar between groups. Patients with morbidity had more frequently presented two previous episodes of SAC (26%) than those without (7%, p = 0.04). Duration of anti-TNF treatment was more frequently longer than 2 months in group A (67%) than that in group B (14%, p = 0.04). No significant differences between groups were noted regarding other preoperative medical treatments and number of lines therapy.

Conclusion: This study suggests that postoperative course after laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for SAC is affected by prolonged preoperative anti-TNF therapy, and in the case of recurrent SAC.