Audit of single-stage proctocolectomy for Crohn's disease: postoperative complications and recurrence

This study was undertaken to review our overall experience of single-stage proctocolectomy for Crohn's disease.

One hundred three patients who underwent single-stage proctocolectomy for Crohn's disease between 1958 and 1997 were reviewed. Factors affecting the incidence of recurrence were examined using a multivariate analysis.

Principal indications for proctocolectomy were chronic colitis (49 percent), acute colitis (37 percent), and anorectal disease (14 percent). The commonest postoperative complication was delayed perineal wound healing (n = 36; 35 percent), followed by intra-abdominal sepsis (17 percent) and stomal complications (15 percent). In 23 patients the perineal wound healed between three and six months after proctocolectomy, whereas in 13 patients the wound remained unhealed for more than six months. There were two hospital deaths (2 percent) caused by sepsis. The 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year cumulative reoperation rates for small-bowel recurrence were 13, 17, and 25 percent, respectively, after a median follow-up of 18.6 years. From a multivariate analysis, factors affecting reoperation rate for recurrence were gender (male; hazard ratio 2.4 vs. female; P = 0.03) and age at operation (< or =30 years; hazard ratio 2.6 vs. >30 years; P = 0.04). The following factors did not affect the reoperation rate: duration of symptoms, smoking habits, associated perforating disease, coexisting small-bowel disease, postoperative complications, and medical treatment.

Proctocolectomy for Crohn's disease is associated with a high incidence of complications, particularly delayed perineal wound healing. Proctocolectomy carries a low recurrence rate in the long term. However, young male patients are at high risk of recurrence.