Editorial
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2012; 18(3): 197-204
Published online Jan 21, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i3.197
Table 1 Crohn’s disease study characteristics
Author study centerStudy designTotal patientsStudy endpointsConcomitant medicationCase (%)Control (%)P valueIFX dosingLast dose IFX prior to surgery < 12 wk (%)
Marchal[22], 2004, BelgiumCase-control79 total, 40 cases, 39 controlsEarly (10 d) and late (3 mo) complications5-ASA3054N.S.Episodic 100%78
6MP/AZA4526N.S.
Steroids7341< 0.00017
Antibiotics2528N.S.
Colombel[23], 2004, Mayo Clinic, RochesterRetrospective270 total, 52 casesEarly (30 d) septic and non-septic complications5-ASA---Episodic 80%96
6MP/AZA7--
Steroids7--
Antibiotics---
Appau[24] , 2008, Cleveland Clinic, ClevelandCase-control458 total, 329 Non IFX, 60 IFX, 69 pre IFX30 d post-operative complications5-ASA60580.95-100
6MP/AZA6215< 0.001
Steroids6577< 0.052
Antibiotics---
Kunitake[29], 2008, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (combined study)Case-control413 total, 101 cases, 312 controlPost-operative complications5-ASA----100
6MP/AZA3760.04
Steroids75.30770.79
Antibiotics---
Table 2 Complications defined in crohn’s disease
StudyStudy endpointsInfectiousNon-infectiousMajorMinor
Marchal[22]Early (10 d) and late (3 mo) complicationsCatheter sepsis, wound, upper respiratory, Diarrhea,yeastSepsis, leak, peritonitis, abscess, wound failure, severe anemia, bulbar ulcer bleedingHematoma, fever, delayed transit, mild infection, intestinal obstruction
Colombel[23]Early (30 d) septic and non septic complicationsWound sepsis, leak, abscess, fistula, sepsis, pneumonia, bacteremia, urosepsisCD recurrence, small bowel obstruction, GI bleeding, thromboembolism
Appau[24]30 d post-operative complicationsWound infection, sepsis, intra abdominal abscess, 30 d mortality, readmission rate, anastomotic leak and wound complications
Kunitake[29] (combined study)Post-operative cumulative complicationsInfections, hypomotility, thrombotic, cardiac complications, hepato-renal complications, anastomotic leak, bleeding and death
Table 3 Post-operative risks of complications with Crohn’s disease
AuthorsComplicationsCases (%)Controls (%)Risks of complications, OR (95% CI)
Marchal[22]Early Minor (10 d)  15 131.2 (0.3-4.3)
Late Minor (3 mo)2.505.101.1 (0.3-4.0)
Early Major (10 d)12.507.701.7 (0.3-7.7)
Late Major (3 mo)17.5012.801.4 (0.4-5.0)
Colombel[23]Septic  170.9 (0.4-1.9)
Non-septic  231.0 (0.5-2.0)
Appau[24]30 d readmission  209.4 + 2.92.3 (1.0-5.3)
30 d sepsis  209.7 + 5.82.6 (1.1-6.1)
30 d intra-abdominal abscess  104.3 + 4.3 (Non IFX + pre IFX group)5.8 (1.7-19.7)
Kunitake[29] (combined study)Post-operative cumulative complications16.8015.701.1 (0.6-2.0)
Table 4 Ulcerative colitis study characteristics
Author and study centerStudy designTotal patientsStudy endpointsConcomitant medicationCase (%)Control (%)P valueIFX dosingLast dose of IFX prior to surgery < 12 wk
Selvasekar[25], 2007, Mayo Clinic, RochesterCase-control301 patients, 47 cases, 254 controlsPost-operative pouch specific and infectious complications5-ASA10060< 0.0001Scheduled (majority)49% (< 8 wk)
6MP/AZA9144< 0.0001
Steroids4777< 0.001
Steroids + AZA7021< 0.001
Schluender[26], 2007, Cedars-Sinai LACase-control151 patients, 17 cases, 134 controls30 d post-operative surgical and medical complications5-ASA---2 infusions (median)Majority (8 wk median)
6MP/AZA94440.03
Steroids100100   1
Mor[27], 2008, Cleveland ClinicCase-control92 patients, 46 cases, 46 controlsEarly (30 d) and late post-operative complications5-ASA---3 infusions (median)Majority (13.5 wk median)
6MP/AZA39280.27
Steroids2 ( ranked dose score)
2.240.42
Ferrante[28], 2009, BelgiumCase-control141 patients, 22 cases, 119 controlsEarly (30 d) post-operative complications5-ASAScheduled 2.5 Infusions (median)Majority (3.9 wk median)
6MP/AZA5955 0.7
Steroids (high dose)9250.163
Kunitake[29], 2008, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (combined study)Case-control413 total, 101 cases, 312 controlPost-operative complications5-ASA----100%
6MP/AZA37260.04
Steroids75.30770.79
Antibiotics---
Table 5 Complications defined in ulcerative colitis studies
StudyStudy EndpointsInfectiousMedicalSurgicalPouch
Selvasekar[25]Post-operative pouch specific and infectious complicationsPouch complications plus; wound infectionsAnastomotic leak; pelvic abscess
Schluender[26]30 d post-operative surgical and medical complicationsNot definedMajor: pneumonia, DVT, pancreatitis, ARF, CVA; minor: dehydration, thrombophlebitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, urinary retentionMajor: SBO, abscess, bleeding, leak; minor: wound infection, ileus, bleeding
Mor[27]Early (30 d) and late post-operative complicationsEarly: pelvic sepsis, bleeding, thrombosis, ileus; Late: pouchitis, SBO, stricture
Ferrante[28]30 d post-operative complicationsSurgical infections: pouch complications plus wound infection; non surgical: UTI and respiratory infectionsAnastomotic leak; pelvic abscess
Kunitake[29] (combined study)Post-operative cumulative complicationsInfections, hypomotility, thrombotic, cardiac complications, hepato-renal complications, anastomotic leak, bleeding and death
Table 6 Post-operative risks of complications with ulcerative colitis
AuthorsComplicationsCases (%)Controls (%)Risks of complications, OR (95% CI)
Selvasekar[25]Pouch specific1972.6 (0.9-7.5)
Infectious28102.7 (1.1-6.7)
Schluender[26]Medical6100.6 (0.1-4.8)
Surgical30181.9 (0.6-5.9)
Infectious1882.4 ( 0.6-9.6)
Mor[27]Early35153.5 (1.5-8.3)
Late52372.2 (0.9-5.3)
Sepsis22113.8 (1.8-105)
Ferrante[28]Pouch specific0170.9 (0.8-0.9)
Surgical infections11230.2 (0.03-1.6)
Total Infectious1128.600.3 (0.07-1.4)
Kunitake[29] (combined study)Post-operative cumulative complications16.8015.701.1 (0.6-2.0)