Abstract
Here we report our experience of four patients who promptly responded to steroid monotherapy for anastomotic stricture following colorectal surgery. Patient 1 underwent laparoscopic transverse colectomy for transverse colon cancer. Anastomotic stricture developed postoperatively, and although a local injection of betamethasone was endoscopically administered around the anastomosis site, a methylprednisolone infusion was intravenously administered for 2 days. Remarkably, symptoms alleviated after 2 days. Patient 2 underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer. Anastomotic stricture developed postoperatively, and symptoms alleviated 1 day after systemic monotherapy, similar to that in patient 1. Patient 3 underwent loop sigmoid colostomy closure while being treated for trauma. Anastomotic stricture developed postoperatively, and symptoms alleviated 1 day after systemic steroid monotherapy, similar to that in patient 2. Patient 4 underwent loop transverse colostomy closure while being treated for sigmoid colon cancer. Anastomotic stricture developed postoperatively, and symptoms alleviated 2 days after systemic steroid therapy, similar to that in other patients. Hence, it is suggested that steroid therapy is a simple and useful method of treatment that promptly and effectively cures anastomotic stricture.
