Post‐operative complications in elderly onset IBD

The most recent issue of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics examines post‐operative complications in elderly onset inflammatory bowel disease.

IBD diagnosed after the age of 60 is increasing.

Data on post‐operative complications in elderly onset IBD are scarce.

Dr Sacleux and colleagues described the incidence of and factors associated with post‐operative complications in elderly onset IBD, diagnosed after the age of 60.

Using EPIMAD Cohort, among 841 incident IBD patients, 17% underwent intestinal surgery, including 100 Crohn's disease (CD) and 39 ulcerative colitis (UC).

After a median post‐operative follow‐up of 6 years, 36% of patients experienced at least 1 complication with a total of 69.

During the first 30 post‐operative days, the mortality rate was 4%. 

The researchers observed 32 early complications (<30 days) in 17% of patients, with 15 infectious, without significant difference between CD and UC.

More than half early post‐operative complications were severe without significant difference between CD and UC.

The research team noted 37 long‐term adverse effects of surgical therapy 24% of patients.

The team found that acute severe colitis and emergency surgery were associated with early post‐operative complications, and Female gender and delay before surgery >3 months with long‐term adverse effects of surgical therapy.

Dr Sacleux's team concludes, "One‐third of elderly IBD patients experienced at least 1 post‐operative complication."

"Half of the early complications were severe, and infectious."

"Emergency surgery was the key driver for post‐operative complication."