P547 Improved clinical and radiologic healing of Crohn’s perianal fistulas using a novel coordinated care model optimising medical and surgical treatments: A prospective real-world observational study
Authors: De Gregorio M , Winata L S , Hartley I , Behrenbruch C C , Connor S J , D‘Souza B , Basnayake C , Guerra G R , Johnston M J , Kamm M A , Keck J O , Lust M , Niewiadomski O , Ong E J S , Schulberg J D , Srinivasan A , Sutherland T , Woods R J , Wright E K , Connell W R , Thompson A J , Ding N S 
Published: January 2024

Background

Despite best standard care, sustained healing rates of Crohn’s perianal fistulas remain low. A novel coordinated multi-disciplinary care model optimising medical and surgical treatment was established with the aim to improve fistula healing rates.

Methods

A prospective real-world observational study evaluated the efficacy of this new care model in adults with Crohn’s perianal fistulas. Patients seen through the new care model were sequentially invited to participate, between March 2021 to April 2022, and included irrespective of disease activity, duration, or prior treatments. Three dynamic stages of care were directed towards patients’ clinical disease activity: stage A, active disease, focused on medical and surgical treatment optimisation; stage B, optimised treatments with a seton in situ, focused on definitive surgical management; and stage C, healed disease, focused on treatment maintenance. Endpoints included: [1] clinical fistula healing after a minimum of 12 months follow-up; [2] changes in radiologic disease activity and fibrosis on serial magnetic resonance imaging; and [3] proportion of patients requiring treatment optimisation.

Results

Sixty patients were included. At baseline, 47% were in stage A, 5% stage B, and 48% stage C. Median age was 40 years (IQR: 32-49), 52% were male, median perianal disease duration was 9 years (IQR: 2-16), and median attendance through the preexisting service was 6 years (IQR: 3-9). After a median of 22 months follow-up (IQR: 16-25), 83% had clinical healing which was significantly higher than baseline rates at study inclusion (83 vs 48%, p&lt;0.001). For patients in stage A at baseline, 68% achieved clinical healing with estimated clinical healing rates of 39% (95%CI: 24-60) and 85% (95%CI: 64-97) at 1 and 2 years, respectively. This paralleled a significant reduction in radiologic disease activity and increase in radiologic fibrosis, with radiologic remission observed in 51% and radiologic response in 47% overall (Table 1). Patients who achieved clinical healing had significantly less radiologic disease activity and greater fibrosis compared to patients with non-healing fistulas. Overall, 53% had biologic dose escalation and 10% switched to an alternative biologic agent with the new care model. Thirty-seven percent underwent a median of two perianal surgical interventions (IQR: 1-3), 15% had closure or ablative techniques performed, and 15% had seton removal only.

Conclusion

A novel coordinated multi-disciplinary care model optimising medical and surgical treatments resulted in high rates of clinical healing and improved radiologic disease activity and fibrosis of Crohn’s perianal fistulas. Controlled-matched studies evaluating treatment optimisation are needed.