Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Ischemic colitis is a common manifestation of intestinal ischemia and is potentially a surgical emergency. Although such surgical emergencies were historically approached via open exploration, it is uncertain if there is a role for minimally invasive techniques. This study compares open vs laparoscopic colectomy techniques in the management of ischemic colitis. METHODS: Using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, patients with ischemic colitis undergoing colectomy from 2005 to 2019 were compared. The primary outcome of interest was 30-day mortality. Additional outcomes of interest were procedure related readmission, procedure related reoperation, length of stay, surgical site infections (SSI), septic shock, and other complications. Outcomes of interest were compared using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: 7,928 patients had ischemic colitis with 7,209 undergoing open colectomy and 719 undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. The mortality rate was significantly lower using a laparoscopic approach compared to open (6.4% vs 26%, p=<0.001) and associated with a lower odd of mortality (OR 0.58; 95% CI [0.35, 0.95]). Procedure related reoperation was lower in the laparoscopic group (6.5% vs 11%, p<0.001), but multivariate analysis was not significant (OR 0.65; 95% CI [0.43,1]). Readmission rates were not statistically different (12% vs 10%, p = 0.2). Postoperative length of stay (7 vs 12 days, p=<0.001), septic shock (6.7% vs 27%, p=<0.001), and organ space SSI (3.2% vs 6.9%, p=<0.001) were significantly decreased using a laparoscopic approach. DISCUSSION: 30-day postoperative mortality was significantly lower using a laparoscopic. Patients that had a laparoscopic colectomy had shorter hospital stays. While patients that underwent laparoscopic procedures tended to be less sick, multivariate analysis showed decreased rates of sepsis and surgical site infections compared to open colectomies when correcting for these factors. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic colectomy may be a better surgical approach for patients with ischemic colitis compared to open colectomy.