Preoperative wireless capsule endoscopy does not predict outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

The extent of preoperative small-bowel mucosal inflammation may be an important predictor of pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. This study examined the value of preoperative wireless capsule endoscopy in predicting outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis.

Patients undergoing complete wireless capsule endoscopy before ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were identified. Findings on wireless capsule endoscopy were classified as positive (erosions, ulcers or erythema) or negative. Outcome was assessed prospectively and included no pouchitis, acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, or de novo Crohn disease. Patients with acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, or de novo Crohn disease were considered to have pouch inflammation.

The 68 study patients (48 ulcerative colitis; 20 indeterminate colitis) had a median age of 38 years and included 34 males. Median follow-up time after ileostomy closure was 12 months (range, 3-63 months). Wireless capsule endoscopy was positive in 15 patients (22%) and negative in 53 patients (78%). Pouch inflammation was observed in 23 patients (34%), and included 8 patients with acute pouchitis, 3 patients with chronic pouchitis, and 12 patients with de novo Crohn disease. The incidence of acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, de novo Crohn disease, and pouch inflammation in the wireless capsule endoscopy-positive patient group was 7%, 7%, 20%, and 33% compared with 13%, 4%, 17%, and 34% in the wireless capsule endoscopy-negative patient group (all P = NS).

There was no statistical association between the results of preoperative wireless capsule endoscopy and outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis. There seems to be little value of wireless capsule endoscopy in the preoperative evaluation of these patients.