Defecation function and quality of life in patients with slow-transit constipation after colectomy

Yue Tian,Li Wang,Jing-Wang Ye,Yong Zhang,Hui-Chao Zheng,Hao-De Shen,Fan Li,Bao-Hua Liu,Wei-Dong Tong

Yue Tian,Li Wang,Jing-Wang Ye,Yong Zhang,Hui-Chao Zheng,Hao-De Shen,Fan Li,Bao-Hua Liu,Wei-Dong Tong, Department of General Surgery,Daping Hospital,Army Medical University,Chongqing 400042,China

Abstract

Key words:Slow-transit constipation;Colectomy;Defecation function;Wexner constipation and incontinence scales;Quality of life;Gastrointestinal quality of life index

INTRODUCTION

Constipation is an ever-growing problem and one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms,affecting 10%-15% of adults in the United States and 8.2% of the general population in China[1,2].Slow-transit constipation(STC),representing 15%-30% of constipated patients,is characterized by a loss of colonic motor activity[3].Factors such as increasing age,female sex,physical inactivity,endocrine,metabolism,neurological factors,drug use,and depression are associated with constipation[4].While most patients have mild constipation that is easily treated with behavioral and medical therapies,a minority of patients suffering from long-term intractable symptoms and poor quality of life(QOL)and showing no response to any medical interventions are ultimately recommended for surgery[5].

Since the effectiveness of colectomy for constipation was first reported by Lane a century ago,surgical treatment for constipation has greatly developed[6]and included ileorectal anastomosis(IRA)[7,8],cecorectal anastomosis(CRA)[9,10],colonic exclusion[11],antegrade enemas(the Malone procedure)[12],modified Duhamel surgery[13],and permanent ileostomy[14].Currently,the main surgical procedures for STC are IRA and CRA,which have been widely confirmed to increase bowel movement frequency in a huge number of patients[6,9].However,the reported outcomes of colectomy are controversial and conflicting[15,16].In these studies,lack of prospectively defined follow-up intervals is a general problem.Moreover,long-term outcomes of surgery for STC are rarely reported[16].Furthermore,negatively persistent symptoms including abdominal pain,bloating,intractable diarrhea,malnutrition,constipation recurrence,fecal incontinence,and intestinal obstruction are not uncommon following surgery,adversely affecting defecation function and QOL following these procedures[17-19].

This study investigated the effectiveness of total or subtotal colectomy,with respect to short- and long-term defecation function and overall QOL during 2-year regular follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Daping Hospital.Prospectively,data collected on patients with STC undergoing laparoscopic total(subtotal)colectomy between March 2013 and September 2017 was reviewed.Constipation was defined using the Rome III criteria[20].Patients were included if every attempt at medical therapy had failed over 1 year.Repeated colonic transit studies were conducted in all patients and defined as positive,when retention of more than 20%markers were localized in the colon after 72 h.Preoperative evaluation of patients with STC included a complete colonoscopy,defecography,and anorectal manometry.The exclusion criteria included a patient for any other indication such as history of carcinomas,polyposis,inflammatory bowel disease,constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome,pelvic floor dyssynergia,and megacolon.Data regarding demographics,preoperative symptoms,preoperative investigations,previous surgery,surgical procedures,and complications were obtained from medical records and analyzed.All surgeries were performed by the same colorectal surgical team.Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Follow-up and data acquisition

All patients were asked to fulfill preoperative questionnaires and answer postoperative questionsviatelephone during follow-up.The defecation function was assessed by bowel movements(number/wk),abdominal pain,bloating,straining,laxative,enema use,diarrhea,the Wexner constipation and incontinence(WC and WI)scales[21,22].The QOL was evaluated using the gastrointestinal QOL index(GIQLI)[23]and the 36-item short form(SF-36)survey[24].Meanwhile,postoperative health changes were included.The follow-up time appointments were scheduled 3 mo,6 mo,1 year,and 2 years following surgery.All questionnaires were distributed to the patients by a resident medical doctor in our department with the purpose of rendering the questions more comprehensible to the interviewees than selfadministration.

Statistical analysis

Parameters including bowel movements,WC,WI,GIQLI,and each sphere of the SF-36 were compared before and after surgery.Data are presented as the mean ±standard deviation,and analyzed using a parametrical test(paired samplest-test)or non-parametrical test(Wilcoxon rank sum test).Categorical variables were compared using theχ2test and reported as proportions(percent).P＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Data analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software(SPSS,Inc.,Chicago,IL,United States).

RESULTS

Demographics

There were 30 patients with STC,including 26(86.7%)women and 4(13.3%)men.The median age at the time of surgery was 50.5 years(range,25-77 years).The average course of the disease was 11.8 years(range,2-33 years).Twenty-nine patients were successfully followed up,while one(3.3%)committed suicide for non-surgical related reasons in the 2-year follow-up(Table 1).

Investigation

The colonic transit time was prolonged in all patients,with a mean of 82% and a range of 55%-100% on day 3 of the study.Barium enema showed an extremely redundant transverse or left colon in 26 patients(86.7%).Abnormal findings of defecography were mild rectal prolapse in 25 patients(83.3%)and rectoceles in 8 patients(26.7%).Melanosis coli was present in 5 patients(16.7%)as observed by complete colonoscopies(Table 1).

Previous surgery

Twenty patients(66.7%)had a history of abdominal or pelvic floor surgery.Eleven(36.7%)cases had a previous transanal surgery.Nine(30.0%)cases had a previous gynecologic surgery.Three(10.0%)had undergone surgery for appendicitis.One(3.3%)had a previous sigmoidectomy for the redundant sigmoid colon.One(3.3%)had a previous rectopexy.One(3.3%)had undergone cholecystectomy(Table 1).

Surgical procedures

The surgical procedures including IRA(23,76.7%)and CRA(7,23.3%)were conductedviahand-assisted laparoscopy(18,60.0%),laparoscopy(7,23.3%),single incisional laparoscopy(3,10.0%),and robotic-assisted laparoscopy(2,6.7%).The anastomosis was stapled in all patients(Table 1).

Table 1 Demographic data from 30 patients with slow-transit constipation,n(%)

Defecation function

The number of bowel movements per week with the aid of laxatives was 1.2 ± 0.6 before surgery.The findings at each time point follow-up significantly increased(P＜0.05)and the increased frequency of defecation following the procedure was controlled over time(Table 2 and Figure 1).

Compared with those of the preoperative findings,a remarkable decline was observed in bloating,straining,laxative and enema use at each time point follow-up(P＜0.05),in addition to that in abdominal pain at the 2-year follow-up(P＜0.05).There is no severe diarrhea after surgery,although occasional diarrhea was present in 23 patients(76.6%)during the 3-mo follow-up.The incidence rate of diarrhea was notably lower at the 2-year follow-up than that at the 3-mo follow-up(P＜0.05)(Table 2 and Figure 2).

The WC scores significantly decreased at each time point during follow-up(P＜0.05)compared with those of the preoperative findings.A stable trend in WC scores was observed following surgery(Table 2 and Figure 3A).

Compared to the findings at the 3-mo follow-up,WI scores were notably lower at the 6-mo,1-year and 2-year follow-up(P＜0.05)(Table 2 and Figure 3A).Based on the WI rating standard,no complete fecal incontinence was observed,and 12 patients(40%)had occasional incontinence 3 mo after surgery.Of these patients,4(13.3%)used pads for fecal incontinence(Table 2 and Figure 3B).

QOL

In compare with those of the preoperative conditions,GIQLI scores went up obviously at each follow-up time point(P＜0.05)(Table 3 and Figure 4A).

The results of the SF-36 showed considerable improvements in role physical,role emotional,physical pain,vitality,mental health,and general health spheres at each time point after surgery compared to the preoperative scores(P＜0.05),in addition to those in social function at 6-mo,1-year,and 2-year follow-up(P＜0.05).No obvious difference was recorded in physical function before and after the procedure(P＞ 0.05)(Table 3 and Figure 4B).

Figure 1 Number of bowel movements in patients with slow-transit constipation.aP＜0.05 vs preoperative data.

According to the follow-up findings of postoperative health changes,23/30(76.7%)patients stated that they received benefits from the procedure at 3-mo follow-up and this percentage reached more than 90% 1 year after colectomy.At the 2-year followup,27 of 29 patients(96.7% of the respondents)stated that the surgery had been beneficial to their health.Of these,18(60%)stated that they were much better,and 9(30%)said that they had improved.One patient(3.3%)did not think that the surgery had been beneficial,and one(3.3%)felt much worse after surgery(Figure 4C).

Complications

The median length of hospital stay was 9 d(range,6-28 d).No procedure-related death occurred within 30 d after surgery.No patient exhibited anastomotic bleeding or incision infections.Two patients(6.6%)had early anastomotic leakage with ileus and were managed conservatively.

Long-term complications occurring 90 d following surgery were documented during follow-up.Small intestinal obstruction was the most common postoperative complication in 6(20%)patients in which 2(6.7%)underwent surgical intervention for enterolysis after 8 mo and 10 mo of the colectomy.Constipation recurrence was observed in 1 patient(3.3%)1 mo following surgery,requiring enemas every morning.Trocar site hernia was found in 1 patient(3.3%)3 mo after surgery.

DISCUSSION

The principal goals of colectomy in patients with STC are to relieve constipation and increase the number of bowel movements.It has been proved that total and subtotal colectomy are beneficial to STC patients,with more than 80% satisfaction reported in some studies[7,25,26].However,persistent symptoms,including abdominal pain,diarrhea,as well as incontinence,and complications are not uncommon after surgery.Meanwhile,a recent systematic review reported by Knowles suggested that current evidence was characterized by the lack of prospectively defined follow-up intervals and uncertain methodological quality[16].It is difficult and insufficient to quantify and to express the effects of surgery on postoperative defecation function and QOL[16,27].Unfortunately,the remission of constipation does not necessarily improve the QOL.In fact,the postoperative defecation function and the QOL are always overlooked[28].Thus,to further evaluate the outcomes of colectomy for STC,the GIQLI,SF-36 survey,WC and WI scales with planned follow-up intervals have been used to assess the defecation function and QOL.

In terms of defecation function,the postoperative increased frequency of bowel movements in the short-term is noteworthy.In our study,a great majority of patients during the hospital stay following surgery were observed to defecate 10-20 times/d,and some patients were even up to more than 20 times/d,requiring an anti-diarrheal agent and adult diapers.The number of bowel movements/wk was 42.5 ± 22.3 during the 3-mo follow-up,and our data showed a downstream trend in the bowelmovement frequency following the procedure,with 27.9 ± 20.5 times/wk during the 2-year follow-up,suggesting that the increased frequency of bowel movements after colectomy could be controllable over time.Compared to the preoperative findings,remarkable improvements were observed in bloating,straining,laxative,and enema use at each time point during follow-up(P＜0.05),in addition to that in abdominal pain at the 2-year follow-up(P＜0.05).None of patient experienced severe diarrhea following the procedure,although more than half of patients complained of occasional diarrhea after surgery,which was closely related to their individual differences and dietary habits such as intake of milk,fat,chilies and cold food.These results suggest that defecation-related symptoms can be improved by surgery,a conclusion also reported by Liet al[25],Marchesiet al[27],and Weiet al[29].

Table 2 Defecation function of patients with slow-transit constipation following surgery at each time point

The WC scale is a validated questionnaire designed to quantify a patient's constipation level[21].Our results showed significantly decreased WC scores at 3-mo follow-up compared with those in preoperative conditions(P＜0.05),with a stable trend over time postoperatively.However,one patient experienced recurrent constipation 1 mo after colectomy,requiring daily enemas use.This case might involve rectal inertia.Our data(mean 5.0,30 cases)on WC scores was better than other previous studies(mean 6.0,33 cases,in the series of Ripettiet al[18])(a median of 11.5,range 8-23,12 cases,in the series of Risset al[19]).

The WI scale in our study was used to quantify fecal incontinence and frequency[22].Compared to the findings at the 3-mo follow-up,the WI scores were notably lower at 6-mo,1-year,and 2-year follow-up(P＜0.05).No complete fecal incontinence was observed,while 12 patients(40%)had occasional incontinence at the 3-mo follow-up,4 of whom(13.3%)used pads for fecal incontinence.The most severe case was a 55-year-old female patient who had a small amount of liquid feces staining on pads with anal pendant expansion daily.The mean WI scores(mean 1.1,range 0-8,30 cases)in our study were lower than those of the study by Marchesiet al[27](mean 3,range 0-18,22 cases),with the number of patients in occasional incontinence(12,40%)lower than those in the Thaler's study(17,47%)[30].

In terms of the QOL,the GIQLI is a validated and internationally adopted QOL questionnaire to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms by Eypaschet al[23]in 1995.Our results showed that GIQLI scores clearly increased(P＜0.05)at each follow-up time point compared to the preoperative scores,and continual improvement was observed during the 2-year follow-up(123.5 ± 17.5 in 30 cases),which was better than previous reports by FitzHarriset al[31](103 ± 22 in 75 patients,follow-up 1-10 years)and Marchesiet al[27](115.5 ± 20.5 in 22 patients,follow-up 1-12 years),and was close to the mean score reported for healthy people(125.8 ± 13)[23].

The SF-36 health survey is a standard tool used to evaluate the QOL and has been used previously to evaluate STC patients with total colectomy[30-32].At each follow-up time point after surgery,the SF-36 showed considerable improvements in six spheres(role physical,role emotional,physical pain,vitality,mental health,and general health)over the preoperative baseline(P＜0.05),in addition to those in social function at the 6-mo,1-year,and 2-year follow-up(P＜0.05).No significant difference was observed in physical function before and after surgery(P＞ 0.05).Our results were worse than those of the study of Vergara-Fernandezet al[32](8 spheres,10 cases,follow-up 1 year)and better than those of the study of Ripettiet al[18](4 spheres,33 cases,follow-up 1-10 years)[18].It was reported by FitzHarriset al[31]that the QOL in STC patients following surgery was affected by abdominal pain,diarrhea and incontinence.Marchesiet al[27]also reported that abdominal pain was a common epiphenomenon and a notable negative correlation was observed between GIQLI scores and the abdominal pain.In our study,more than half patients experienced intermittent abdominal pain at the 3-mo follow-up and the incidence rate clearly decreased at the 2-year follow-up compared to preoperative findings(P＜0.05).In addition to the considerable increase in physical pain scores of SF-36 following surgery,our results suggest that both the incidence rate and degree of abdominal pain improved significantly.Such pain,likely caused by surgery-related adhesions,was better in our study than in that in the report of Thaleret al[30](41%).

Figure 2 Incidence in patients with slow-transit constipation.A:Abdominal pain,bloating,and diarrhea;B:Straining,laxative use,and enema.

Short-term complications occurred in 2 patients(6.7%)within 30 d after surgery.Both patients presented with anastomotic leakage on postoperative days 7 and 9,respectively,as well as the ileus,and were treated conservatively including fasting,water-deprivation,anti-infective treatment,somatostatin by micropump and patent drainage.In this study,6(20%)patients were diagnosed with small intestinal obstruction,which was the most common postoperative complications.Four of these(13.3%)healed with conservative management,while other 2(6.7%)cases required surgical intervention for enterolysis after 8 and 10 mo of the initial surgery.Other reports on the incidence of small intestinal obstruction were diverse(Sohnet al[7],18.9%;Zutshiet al[17],46%;Liet al[25],32.5%;Reshefet al[26],54% and Marchesiet al[27],9.1%).It has been reported that laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for the reduction of postoperative abdominal adhesion was superior to open surgery[33].One patient experienced constipation recurrence after 1 mo of surgery,requiring an enema every morning.In this patient,the total digestive tract contrast examination with iohexol showed that the contrast agent stopped at the anastomosis,and no anastomosis stenosis was observed in a colonoscopy,indicating that the constipation recurrence may be related to rectal inertia.Trocar site hernia was found in one patient that was cured by herniorrhaphy 3 mo after the initial surgery.

When questioned about postoperative health changes,23 of 30(76.7%,100% of respondents)patients stated that they received benefits from the procedure during the 3-mo follow-up,while it reached more than 90% in the 1-year follow-up.In the 2-year follow-up,27 of 29(93.1%,96.7% of respondents)stated that the surgery was beneficial to their health.Among these patients,18(60%)stated they obtained great deal of improvement,while 9(30%)said that their health had improved.Unfortunately,one(3.3%)patient complained that the operation did not benefit her,the other one(3.3%)felt much worse after surgery.

Since this is a retrospective single-center study which has certain limitations,multicenter randomized controlled studies are necessary in future.In addition,we will also expand the sample size and perform long term continuous follow-up to further evaluate the defecation function and the QOL for surgery.

In our study,a drastically increase in bowel movements,a significant decrease in WC scores and remarkable improvements in associated symptoms such as abdominal pain,bloating,diarrhea,straining,laxative and enema use suggest that total or subtotal colectomy is efficient in the treatment of STC.A marked trend toward increasing GIQLI scores was observed following surgery and SF-36 displayed great improvement in 6 spheres.Furthermore,the majority of patients(93.1%)thought that they benefit from the procedure during the 2-year follow-up(Supplementary Table 1).These results suggest that the QOL improved after the procedure.Our results revealed that total or subtotal colectomy for STC is effective in treating patients with colonic inertia.

Figure 3 Wexner constipation and incontinence scale scores in patients with slow-transit constipation.A:Wexner constipation(WC)scales;B:Wexner incontinence(WI)scales.aP＜0.05 vs preoperative data;bP＜0.05 vs 3-mo follow-up data.

Table 3 Quality of life in patients with slow-transit constipation following surgery at each time point

Figure 4 Quality of life in patients with slow-transit constipation.A:Gastrointestinal quality of life index(GIQLI)scores;B:36-item short form survey results;C:Beneficial health changes.aP＜0.05 vs preoperative data.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Slow-transit constipation(STC)is characterized by a loss in the colonic motor activity.A minority of patients suffering from long-term intractable symptoms and poor quality of life(QOL)and showing no response to any medical interventions are ultimately recommended for surgery.Currently,the main surgical procedures for STC are ileorectal anastomosis and cecorectal anastomosis.

Research motivation

However,the reported outcomes of colectomy are controversial and conflicting.In these studies,lack of prospectively defined follow-up intervals is a general problem.Moreover,long-term outcomes of surgery for STC are rarely reported.Furthermore,negatively persistent symptoms including abdominal pain,bloating,intractable diarrhea,malnutrition,constipation recurrence,fecal incontinence,and intestinal obstruction are not uncommon following surgery,adversely affecting defecation function and QOL following these procedures.

Research objectives

This study investigated the effectiveness of total or subtotal colectomy,with respect to short- and long-term defecation function and overall QOL during 2-year regular follow-up.

Research methods

From March 2013 to September 2017,30 patients undergoing surgery for STC in our department were analyzed.Preoperative,intra-operative,and postoperative 3-mo,6-mo,1-year,2-year follow-up details were recorded.Defecation function was assessed by bowel movements,abdominal pain,bloating,straining,laxative,enema use,diarrhea,and the Wexner constipation and incontinence scales.QOL was evaluated using the gastrointestinal QOL index and the shortform-36 survey.

Research results

The majority of patients(93.1%,27/29)stated that they benefit from the operation at the 2-year follow-up.At each time point of the follow-up,the number of bowel movements per week increased significantly compared with that of the preoperative conditions(P＜0.05).Similarly,compared with the preoperative values,a marked decline was observed in bloating,straining,laxative,and enema use at each time point of following up(P＜0.05).Postoperative diarrhea could be controlled effectively and improved notably at the 2-year follow-up.The Wexner incontinence scores at 6-mo,1-year,and 2-year were notably lower when compared with those at the 3-mo follow-up(P＜0.05).Compared with those of the preoperative findings,the Wexner constipation scores significantly decreased following surgery(P＜0.05).Thus,was reasonable to find that the gastrointestinal QOL index scores clearly increased(P＜0.05)and the 36-item short form results displayed considerable improvements in six spheres(role physical,role emotional,physical pain,vitality,mental health,and general health)following surgery.

Research conclusions

Total or subtotal colectomy for STC is not only effective in alleviating constipation-related symptoms but also in enhancing patients' QOL.

Research perspectives

Because this was a retrospective single-center study with certain limitations,multicenter randomized controlled studies are necessary in the future.In addition,we will also expand the sample size and perform long-term continuous follow-up to further evaluate defecation function and QOL after surgery.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Dr.Chunxue Li,Dr.Song Zhao,Dr.Yu Gao,Dr.Bin Huang,nurse Xiao-Lian Deng,and the other members of our institute staff for their assistance in this study.