Factors associated with postoperative morbidity, reoperation and readmission rates after laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy for ulcerative colitis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate factors affecting postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy (TAC) with end ileostomy (EI) for ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHOD: Patients undergoing laparoscopic TAC/EI for severe UC/indeterminate colitis in our institution between 1998 and 2010 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively established database. Demographics, disease characteristics and perioperative outcomes were recorded. Associations between the 30-day postoperative outcome and patient-, disease- and treatment-related variables were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Two hundred and four patients (105 men, median age 35.5 years) were identified. The conversion rate was 4.4%. Median blood loss and operation time were 100 ml and 185 min. Length of hospital stay was 5.8 ± 4.4 days. Overall postoperative morbidity, reoperation and readmission rates were 40, 7 and 17%, respectively Preoperative treatment with high steroid doses was significantly associated with postoperative morbidity on multivariate analysis (P = 0.011). Univariate analysis showed that lower preoperative body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin, serum albumin level and pancolitis were associated with reoperation, of which a lower BMI (P = 0.043) was also independently significant on multivariate analysis. No specific factor was significantly associated with readmission.

CONCLUSION: Preoperative clinical deterioration is associated with an adverse outcome after laparoscopic TAC for UC.