A Single-Center Comparative Study of Open Transabdominal and Laparoscopic Transanal Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis with Total Mesorectal Excision. Has the Bar Been Raised?

Background: Most ulcerative colitis (UC) patients requiring surgery undergo transabdominal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) performed minimally invasively or open. Although one multicenter study demonstrated acceptably low morbidity after transanal pouch, our initial single-center experience with transanal IPAA (ta-IPAA) was associated with an unacceptably high rate of anastomotic leak. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes of ta-IPAA and transabdominal IPAA with growing experience of transanal proctectomy and determine whether one approach offered any advantage or benefit over the other.

Methods: Single-center series of consecutive ulcerative colitis patients underwent 3-stage IPAA, either ta-IPAA or transabdominal IPAA at a tertiary referral center. The primary outcome measure was overall complications until immediately prior to stoma closure. Secondary outcomes included postoperative clinical measures.

Results: The study group consisted of 113 patients, which included 37 (33%) patients undergoing transabdominal or open IPAA and 76 (67%) patients undergoing ta-IPAA. The overall complication rate was numerically higher in the ta-IPAA group (56%) compared to the transabdominal group (38%) (p = 0.07) as was the incidence of anastomotic leak in the ta-IPAA group (12 vs. 5%) (p = 0.17). Mean length of hospital stay was significantly higher in the transanal IPAA group (p = 0.04). Operating time, opioid use and pain scores were similar between groups.

Conclusion: Transanal IPAA has a higher incidence of overall complications and anastomotic leak compared to transabdominal IPAA. Postoperative length of stay is significantly higher in patients undergoing ta-IPAA. Operating room time, opiate use and pain scores are comparable between the two surgical approaches. Transanal IPAA appears to offer little advantage over transabdominal IPAA.