Background and aims: Pouch sinus is a serious complication in patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy and safety of endoscopic needle knife sinusotomy (NKSi) in the management of pouch sinus.
Methods: All consecutive patients with a pouch sinus treated with NKSi from 2008 to 2016 were identified. The primary outcomes were complete healing of the sinus and pouch survival.
Results: A total of 109 patients were included. During a median follow-up of 2.1 years (interquartile range: 0.7-4.4), 54 (49.5%) patients achieved complete healing and 20 (18.3%) patients had partial healing, Twenty-two (20.2%) patients developed sinus-related pouch failure. In multivariable analysis for the sinus healing, Crohn's disease of the pouch was a risk factor [odds ratio (OR): 0.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.8), whereas a longer interval between NKSi (OR: 1.1, 95%CI: 1.0-1.1) and high body mass index (OR: 1.2, 95%CI: 1.0-1.3) were protective factors. In the multivariable analysis for surgery-free survival, previously documented acute anastomotic leak (OR:3.5, 95%CI: 1.2-10.4), toxic megacolon (OR: 7.4, 95%CI: 1.9-29.1), an increased length of sinus (OR: 1.4, 95%CI: 1.0-2.0), and increased duration from sinus diagnosis to NKSi (OR: 2.6, 95%CI: 1.1-6.2) were risk factors; and a longer interval between NKSis (OR: 0.9, 95%CI: 0.9-0.99), and concurrent use of dextrose 50% (OR: 0.2, 95%CI: 0.04-0.6) and doxycycline during the NKSi procedure (OR: 0.2, 95%CI: 0.04-0.7) were protective factors. NKSi-associated complications were reported in 6 (1.8% per procedure) cases.
Conclusions: NKSi is an effective and safe procedure for treating pouch sinus.