Current Drug Targets - Volume 20, Issue 13, 2019

Background: The isolated effect of vedolizumab on increased postoperative complications remains debated, similar to the controversial data on anti-TNF and postoperative complications. Objective: To determine the risk of vedolizumab on postoperative complications. Methods: A review of the literature available to date on studies comparing postoperative outcomes in vedolizumab-treated versus non-vedolizumab-treated p Read More

Corticosteroids are frequently used in the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Although they can be very useful, their potential adverse effects have to be kept in mind. One of the situations in which these drugs should be avoided, if possible, is the perioperative setting. If a patient reaches surgery while on steroids, surgical complications will be more likely to occur, both infectious and non-infectious. Attention shoul Read More

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an immune-mediated condition characterized by the transmural inflammation of the gut tissue, associated with progressive bowel damage often leading to surgical intervention. As operative resection of the damaged segment is not curative, a majority of patients undergoing intestinal resections for complicated CD present disease recurrence within 3 years after the intervention. Postoperative recu Read More

Background: Biological therapy with anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α agents revolutionised the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease over the last decades. However, there may be an increased risk of postoperative complications in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents prior to abdominal surgery. Objective: To evaluate the effects of preoperative anti-TNF-α therapy on the incidence of complicatio Read More

Since the approval in 2005 of anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, concerns have been raised about the potential detrimental effect of these agents on postoperative infectious complications related to pouch surgery. Data on this topic are controversial and mostly derived from retrospective underpowered cohort studies largely affected by relevant bias. Three meta-analyses have been published with contr Read More

Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), are multifactorial, potentially debilitating diseases with probable genetic heterogeneity and unknown etiology. During the disease course of IBD, periods of inflammatory activity alternate with periods of remission. Severe complications in IBD often result in surgery. In the last two decades, major advances in medical treatment Read More

Despite changing medical paradigm, still a significant proportion of patients with IBD require surgery. The patient's general condition, including nutritional status and the use of immunosuppressive medications is of great importance with regard to surgical complications, as well as the choice of optimal surgical strategy. The indication and the timing of surgery are key factors for the multidisciplinary management of IBD patient Read More

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract that is characterised by a relapsing and remitting course. Despite advancements in therapeutic options for CD, a substantial number of patients still require surgery for medically refractory disease or disease-related complications. Given the widespread adoption of biologic therapies for the management of patients with moderate-to-severe CD Read More

Fistulising perianal Crohn’s disease (pCD) is an aggressive phenotype, and patients not only suffer from perianal manifestations but also a worsening course for their luminal disease. This article describes the 6 key steps clinicians need to consider when managing patients with pCD which include; (i) ensuring a prompt diagnosis, (ii) multi-disciplinary management, (iii) psychological support, (iv) using multimodal medic Read More

Crohn’s disease may severely impact the quality of life and being a chronic disease it requires both medical and surgical treatment aimed at induction and maintenance of remission to prevent relapsing symptoms and the need for further surgery. Surgery in Crohn’s disease often has to be performed in patients with well-known risk factors of post-operative complications, particularly intraabdominal septic complications. Read More

Approximately 50% of patients who have undergone IPAA surgery for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) develop at least 1 episode of pouchitis. Patients with pouchitis have a wide range of symptoms, endoscopic and histologic features, disease course, and prognosis. To date, there are no universally accepted diagnostic criteria in terms of endoscopy and histology; though, semi-objective assessments to diagnose pouchitis in patients Read More