Is Hartmann's procedure safe in Crohn's disease? Report of three cases

Crohn's disease-associated colorectal cancer may occur in an area of defunctioning bowel. Some patients with Crohn's colitis undergo subtotal colectomy, ileostomy, and low Hartmann's procedure in an effort to preserve the rectum. This procedure has also been advocated for patients with severe anorectal Crohn's disease, in whom nonhealing of the perineal wound after proctectomy occurs with alarming frequency. The authors present a review of the literature and three cases of cancer developing in the defunctioning rectal stump despite surveillance proctoscopy.

Twenty-five patients underwent low Hartmann's procedure for severe anorectal Crohn's disease. Surveillance proctoscopy was performed as follow-up. Development of cancer in the rectal remnant or anus or recurrence of symptoms was managed by resection and adjuvant therapy.

One patient developed squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal, underwent resection and adjuvant therapy, and was disease free at the time of this study. Two patients developed adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Both underwent resection and adjuvant therapy. One patient died and the other developed a recurrence.

The authors recommend interval perineal proctectomy in all patients undergoing low Hartmann's procedure for severe anorectal Crohn's disease in whom rectal preservation is not possible. Regularly scheduled interim surveillance proctoscopy performed every two years, with biopsies of macroscopically normal-appearing and abnormal-appearing rectal mucosa and curetting of fistulous tracts, is also recommended to decrease the possibility of missing occult malignancies.