Francisco Portela

The second European evidence-based Consensus on the diagnosis and management of Crohn's disease: Special situations.

Principal changes with respect to the 2004 ECCO guidelines Ileocolonoscopy is recommended within the first year after surgery where treatment decisions may be affected (Statement 8C). Thiopurines are more effective than mesalazine or imidazole antibiotics alone in post-operative prophylaxis (Statement 8F). ### 8.1 Epidemiology of post-operative Crohns disease In the natural history of CD, intestinal resection is almost unavoidable since about 80% of patients require surgery at some stage. Surgery is unfortunately not curative as the disease inexorably recurs in many patients. The post-operative recurrence rate varies according to the definition used: clinical, endoscopic, radiological, or surgical. It is lowest when the repeat resection rate is considered, intermediate when clinical indices are used and highest when endoscopy is employed as the diagnostic tool.1–10 Data from endoscopic follow-up of patients after resection of ileo-caecal disease have shown that in the absence of treatment, the post-operative recurrence rate is around 65–90% within 12 months and 80–100% within 3 years of the operation. The clinical recurrence without therapy is about 20–25%/year.1,10 It has been demonstrated that the post-operative clinical course of CD is best predicted by the severity of endoscopic lesions. Symptoms, in fact, appear only when severe lesions are present and it is not uncommon to observe patients with fairly advanced recurrent lesions at endoscopy who remain asymptomatic.1 For these reasons, clinical indices such as the CDAI have low sensitivity at discriminating between patients with or without post-operative recurrence.11 These data mandate strategies aimed at interrupting or delaying the natural course of post-operative recurrence. Several medications have been tried in an attempt to prevent post-operative recurrence, mostly with disappointing results. The aim of this Consensus was therefore critically to evaluate the optimal strategies for the management of post-operative recurrence in CD. Most, if not all, of the evidence available deals with …

Second European evidence-based consensus on the diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis part 3: special situations.

### 8.1 General Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the procedure of choice for most patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) requiring colectomy.1 Pouchitis is a non-specific inflammation of the ileal reservoir and the most common complication of IPAA in patients with UC.2–7 Its frequency is related to the duration of follow up, occurring in up to 50% of patients 10 years after IPAA in large series from major referral centres.1–9 The cumulative incidence of pouchitis in patients with an IPAA for familial adenomatous polyposis is much lower, ranging from 0 to 10%.10–12 Reasons for the higher frequency of pouchitis in UC remain unknown. Whether pouchitis more commonly develops within the first years after IPAA or whether the risk continues to increase with longer follow up remains undefined. ### Statement 8A The diagnosis of pouchitis requires the presence of symptoms, together with characteristic endoscopic and histological abnormalities [EL3a, RG B]. Extensive UC, extraintestinal manifestations (i.e. PSC), being a non-smoker, p-ANCA positive serology and NSAID use are possible risk factors for pouchitis [EL3b, RG D] #### 8.1.1 Symptoms After proctocolectomy with IPAA, median stool frequency is 4 to 8 bowel movements,1–4,13,14 with about 700 mL of semiformed/liquid stool per day,2,13,14 compared to a volume of 200 mL/day in healthy people. Symptoms related to pouchitis include increased stool frequency and liquidity, abdominal cramping, urgency, tenesmus and pelvic discomfort.2,15 Rectal bleeding, fever, or extraintestinal manifestations may occur. Rectal bleeding is more often related to inflammation of the rectal cuff (“cuffitis,” Section 1.4),16 than to pouchitis. Faecal incontinence may occur in the absence of pouchitis after IPAA, but is more common in patients with pouchitis. Symptoms of pouch dysfunction in patients with IPAA may be caused by conditions other than pouchitis, including Crohns disease of the pouch,17–19 cuffitis16 and an irritable pouch …

3rd European Evidence-based Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Crohn's Disease 2016: Part 2: Surgical Management and Special Situations

This paper is the second in a series of two publications relating to the European Crohns and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] evidence-based consensus on the diagnosis and management of Crohns disease [CD] and concerns the surgical management of CD as well as special situations including management of perianal CD and extraintestinal manifestations. Diagnostic approaches and medical management of CD of this ECCO Consensus are covered in the first paper [Gomollon et al JCC 2016].

Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Infliximab and Other Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Therapies

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), most commonly referring to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic and disabling condition with an increasing incidence in southern Europe. The etiology of IBD remains unknown, but the characteristic disproportionate inflammatory response in the gut may develop through various mechanisms at the cellular and subcellular level. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is one crucial mediator of this abnormal immune response, and in recent years, biological therapies targeting TNFα have significantly improved the management of IBD refractory to conventional therapies. Infliximab is the best studied anti-TNFα agent, and is currently approved in the European Union for adults and children with Crohn’s disease and adults with ulcerative colitis; adalimumab is indicated for Crohn’s disease in adults but not children, while certolizumab was not approved in the European Union for Crohn’s disease. Infliximab has confirmed efficacy in adults with Crohn’s disease (including fistulizing disease) and ulcerative colitis, with benefits observed in both clinical remission and mucosal healing, it is similarly effective in children with Crohn’s disease. Evidence suggests that early treatment with infliximab may improve the natural course of the disease. Adalimumab showed efficacy in adults with Crohn’s disease and more limited data suggest efficacy in children with Crohn’s disease. Although certolizumab pegol has also shown promising data in adults with Crohn’s disease, data in children are lacking. Anti-TNFα agents are generally well tolerated, although careful monitoring for adverse events such as infections, infusion reactions, lymphomas and demyelinating diseases is warranted. A definitive causal relationship between anti-TNFα agents and various adverse events is difficult to establish, as the underlying disease and concomitant immunosuppression also predispose patients to such events. Infliximab has not been associated with an increased incidence of serious events, and adalimumab and certolizumab are also generally well tolerated in clinical trials. Both adalimumab and certolizumab pegol are associated with lower levels of drug antibodies compared with infliximab. Reactivation of latent tuberculosis is a potential risk with any anti-TNFα agent, and identification and treatment is required before initiating therapy. Although causal relationships are difficult to establish, caution is advised with anti-TNFα compounds in patients developing neurological symptoms suggestive of demyelinating disease, or in those at high risk of malignancy. Infliximab is also generally well tolerated in children; however, data are scarce for the other compounds. No increased risks associated with pregnancy have been observed for infliximab or adalimumab, but caution in pregnancy and during breast-feeding is currently advocated. In terms of future research, more long-term data are needed for both certolizumab pegol in Crohn’s disease and adalimumab in ulcerative colitis. More research on the benefits of early biological treatment on disease progression is needed. In summary, the anti-TNFα inhibitors represent a momentous advance in the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis refractory to conventional treatments. They offer significant benefits in quality of life and mucosal healing, and may have the potential to change the evolution of the disease when given early.

Crohn's disease in a southern European country: Montreal classification and clinical activity

Background: Given the heterogeneous nature of Crohns disease (CD), our aim was to apply the Montreal Classification to a large cohort of Portuguese patients with CD in order to identify potential predictive regarding the need for medical and/or surgical treatment. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was used based on data from an on‐line registry of patients with CD. Results: Of the 1692 patients with 5 or more years of disease, 747 (44%) were male and 945 (56%) female. On multivariate analysis the A2 group was an independent risk factor of the need for steroids (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–2.3) and the A1 and A2 groups for immunosuppressants (OR 2.2; CI 1.2–3.8; OR 1.4; CI 1.0–2.0, respectively). An L3+L34 and L4 location were risk factors for immunosuppression (OR 1.9; CI 1.5–2.4), whereas an L1 location was significantly associated with the need for abdominal surgery (P < 0.001). After 20 years of disease, less than 10% of patients persisted without steroids, immunosuppression, or surgery. The Montreal Classification allowed us to identify different groups of disease severity: A1 were more immunosuppressed without surgery, most of A2 patients were submitted to surgery, and 52% of L1+L14 patients were operated without immunosuppressants. Conclusions: Stratifying patients according to the Montreal Classification may prove useful in identifying different phenotypes with different therapies and severity. Most of our patients have severe disease. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009)

Ulcerative colitis in northern Portugal and Galicia in Spain

Background: Clinical and therapeutic patterns of ulcerative colitis (UC) are variable in different world regions. The purpose of this study was to examine two close independent southern European UC populations from 2 bordering countries and observe how demographic and clinical characteristics of patients can influence the severity of UC. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted during a 15‐month period (September 2005 to December 2006) based on data of 2 Web registries of UC patients. Patients were stratified according to the Montreal Classification and disease severity was defined by the type of treatment taken. Results: A total of 1549 UC patients were included, 1008 (65%) from northern Portugal and 541 (35%) from Galicia (northwest Spain). A female predominance (57%) was observed in Portuguese patients (P < 0.001). The median age at diagnosis was 35 years and median years of disease was 7. The majority of patients (53%) were treated only with mesalamine, while 15% had taken immunosuppressant drugs, and 3% biologic treatment. Most patients in both groups were not at risk for aggressive therapy. Extensive colitis was a predictive risk factor for immunosuppression in northern Portugal and Galicia (odds ratio [OR] 2.737, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.846–4.058; OR 5.799, 95% CI: 3.433–9.795, respectively) and biologic treatment in Galicia (OR 6.329, 95% CI: 2.641–15.166). Younger patients presented a severe course at onset with more frequent use of immunosuppressors in both countries. Conclusions: In a large population of UC patients from two independent southern European countries, most patients did not require aggressive therapy, but extensive colitis was a clear risk factor for more severe disease. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010)

Off-pump total arterial revascularization: our experience.

Abstract  Background and Aim: Off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting with both the internal thoracic arteries, such as the Tector technique, can reduce the morbidity associated with extracorporeal circulation and aortic cross‐clamp. The aim of the present study is to describe our experience and the results obtained. Methods: From April 1998 to December 2003, the off‐pump Tector technique was performed on 743 patients, of whom 621 were male (83.5%), with a mean age of 65.3 ± 9.5 years (23–90). Preoperative risk factors were diabetes mellitus in 29.5% and peripheral vasculopathy in 14.7% of the patients. Angiography showed left main disease in 25.6% and triple‐vessel disease in 50.3% of the patients, with a mean ejection fraction of 60%± 13% (23–88). Both the internal thoracic arteries were harvested using the skeletonization technique and were anastomosed as “Y” or “T” grafts. Intraoperative graft patency was checked using a Doppler flowmeter. Results: A total of 2028 distal anastomoses were performed, the average being 2.7 (1 to 5) per patient. At least three distal anastomoses were undertaken in 62% of the patients. Postoperative complications included atrial fibrillation in 40 patients (5.4%), myocardial infarction in 24 (3.2%), mediastinitis and reoperation for bleeding in 7 (0.9%) and stroke in 3 (0.4%). Twenty‐four patients (3.2%) died in the first month postoperatively. Conclusions: The off‐pump Tector technique appears to be safe, showing a low surgical morbidity.

Novedades en cardiología pediátrica, cardiopatías congénitas del adulto y cirugía cardiaca de cardiopatías congénitas

La cardiologia pediatrica es una disciplina en continua evolucion, que abarca no solo las cardiopatias congenitas y adquiridas en la infancia, sino tambien al adulto afecto de cardiopatias congenitas y el diagnostico y la prevencion de las cardiopatias en la epoca prenatal. Destacamos novedades en el campo de la genetica y resaltamos algunos articulos de diagnostico por resonancia magnetica o tomografia multicorte, asi como nuevas publicaciones en el campo de la electrofisiologia y en el tratamiento quirurgico en el nino y en el adulto con cardiopatia congenita. Tambien abordamos el campo cada vez mas avanzado de la asistencia ventricular mecanica como puente al trasplante en ninos

Evaluación preoperatoria del riesgo en la cirugía coronaria sin circulación extracorpórea

Introduccion y objetivos Los modelos de estratificacion del riesgo quirurgico en cirugia cardiaca han sido elaborados a partir de pacientes intervenidos con circulacion extracorporea. El objetivo del presente estudio es valorar como se comportan 6 modelos de riesgo preoperatorio en pacientes intervenidos sin circulacion extracorporea, asi como conocer cuales son los factores de riesgo predictores de complicaciones mayores y mortalidad en nuestros pacientes revascularizados mediante dicha tecnica. Pacientes y metodo Entre enero de 1997 y diciembre de 2002 se realizo cirugia de revascularizacion miocardica sin el uso de circulacion extracorporea en un total de 762 pacientes consecutivos; de ellos, 61 (8%) presentaron complicaciones mayores y 25 (3,3%) murieron. A partir de variables recogidas de forma prospectiva, se calcularon mediante un analisis de regresion logistica los factores predictores para complicaciones mayores y mortalidad. En cada uno de los pacientes se calcularon las escalas de riesgo Parsonnet 95, Parsonnet 97, Euroscore, Cleveland, Ontario y Francesa. Mediante curvas ROC se comparo la capacidad de cada una de las escalas para predecir la mortalidad y la presencia de complicaciones mayores. Resultados En nuestra serie, las variables preoperatorias que aumentan significativamente el riesgo fueron: la resucitacion cardiopulmonar, la presencia de insuficiencia renal, la arteriopatia periferica, la presencia de enfermedad coronaria severa de tronco izquierdo en mas de 3 vasos y la fraccion de eyeccion deprimida. Conclusiones Las escalas de riesgo que mejor predicen la mortalidad y la presencia de complicaciones mayores fueron Parsonnet 95 y Euroscore.

Revascularización miocárdica arterial completa con ambas arterias mamarias sin circulación extracorpórea

Introduccion. Tector ha descrito la tecnica de revascularizacion arterial completa usando multiples anastomosis con ambas arterias mamarias internas. Para reducir la morbimortalidad quirurgica nos hemos propuesto realizar esta tecnica sin circulacion extracorporea. Pacientes y metodos. Desde abril de 1998 hemos realizado revascularizacion «tipo Tector» sin circulacion extracorporea en 92 pacientes, 74 varones (80%) y 18 mujeres (20%), con una edad media de 64,9 ± 8,1 anos (rango, 42-78). La angiografia preoperativa puso de manifiesto que diecinueve (20,5%) pacientes tenian lesion significativa de tronco comun y 58 (63%) triple vaso. Cuarenta pacientes (43,5%) presentaban angina inestable, 24 (26%) enfermedad vascular periferica significativa y 26 (28%) diabetes. Ambas mamarias fueron disecadas sin pediculo, y anastomosadas como injerto en «Y» o «T». La permeabilidad de las anastomosis se evaluo con Doppler intraoperatorio en 24 (26%) pacientes mediante