Outcomes after ileal pouch anal anastomosis in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Outcomes after ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) are not well established in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We conducted a comprehensive outcomes assessment in these patients.

METHODS: A retrospective case note review of complications in all PSC-IPAA (n=21) and matched ulcerative colitis patients with IPAA (UC-IPAA; n=79) after surgery in Oxford (1983-2012) was conducted, and functional outcomes (Öresland score) were evaluated (2012). Quality of life [Cleveland Global Quality of Life Questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36)], and sexual function were also assessed (2012) including patients with PSC-associated UC without IPAA (PSC-UC; n=19). Sub-group analysis of patients with large duct (ld) PSC-IPAA (n=17) was also performed.

RESULTS: The 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-year risk of acute pouchitis for PSC-IPAA was 10%, 19%, 31% and 65% respectively, compared to 3%, 10%, 14% and 28% in UC-IPAA (p=0.03). More PSC-IPAA (36%) had poor nocturnal pouch function (vs 2% in UC-IPAA; p=0.0016). There were no differences in surgical complications, quality of life or sexual function between the 3 main groups. LdPSC-IPAA had poorer pouch function (Öresland score: 7.7 vs 5.4 in UC-IPAA; p=0.02), and worse quality of life [SF-36 Physical: 42 vs 50.5 in UC-IPAA; 47.7 in PSC-UC; p=0.03 and Mental Health summary scores: 41.6 vs 51.2 in UC-IPAA; 42.3 in PSC-UC; p=0.04].

CONCLUSIONS: PSC-IPAA suffer more acute pouchitis and have worse functional outcomes than UC-IPAA. LdPSC-IPAA also have poorer quality of life.