The ileo-anal pouch procedure: Complications, quality of life, and long-term results

The ileo-anal pouch procedure: Complications, quality of life, and long-term results. Restorative proctocolectomy with construction of an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has evolved as the surgical therapy of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). 662 patients (493 UC, 169 FAP) consecutively received IPAA. Marked differences were observed between UC and FAP patients regarding the rates of overall complications (33.1 % vs. 12.5 %), pouchitis (29 % vs. 2 %), and pouch extirpation (3.2 % vs. 0.6 %). Pouchitis occurred as primary (79 %) and secundary (21 %) form, with acute (67.2 %) or chronic (32.8 %) course. Each form and course required specific therapy. Chronic pouchitis implies the risk of malignant transformation of the pouch mucosa. Quality of life improves significantly after IPAA in patients with UC and is equal to that in normal individuals, in UC and FAP, if postoperative complications are either prevented or under control.     

Etiology and pathogenesis of pouchitis

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the preferred surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). While this surgical therapy is effective and results in good clinical outcomes and quality of life, patients experience complications, the most common of which is pouchitis. While most pouchitis is considered idiopathic, there is mounting evidence that pouchitis results from aberrant immune response to the bacterial populations found in the pouch in a genetically predisposed patient. Dysbiosis and decreased diversity of the microbiota seem to contribute to this process. Risk factors for pouchitis including inflammatory bowel disease and obesity provide further clues to the etiology of pouchitis. In conclusion, we seek to understand the pathogenesis of pouchitis as both a post-operative complication and a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).     

Anatomic and functional characteristics of the rat ileal pouch

BACKGROUND: The definitive operation for chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis is total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). Mild inflammation (pouchitis) is omnipresent in pouches and becomes severe in 50% of UC patients with IPAA. The etiology of pouchitis is likely due to combined genetic, microbial, and immunologic factors. Epithelial cell exposure to surgical trauma and/or to changes in intestinal bacterial composition may account for the inflammatory infiltrate. Progress in understanding pouchitis is restricted by the lack of suitable animal models. METHODS: An ileal pouch-rectal anastomosis [IPRA] in rats was developed to reproduce a model of human IPAA and clinical, gross and histologic criteria were determined. RESULTS: Many shared features with human ileal pouch were observed. CONCLUSION: IPRA is an important in vivo model to study mechanisms of repair, defense and immunity that may contribute to pouchitis.     

Restorative proctocolectomy. Does ethnicity affect outcome?

Objective  Restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is well-established in the management of ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We review outcome of pouch surgery from a single centre, comparing non-South Asian and South Asian Caucasian populations.
Method  Patients undergoing RPC for UC and FAP during a 10-year period between January 1997 and January 2007 were identified from hospital records. Data were collected retrospectively from case notes on early and long-term results.
Results  A total of 107 patients underwent pouch formation for UC (94%) or FAP (6%) and 22 (21%) were from the Asian subcontinent. Eighty-seven (81%) underwent a three-stage procedure and 20 (19%) a two-stage procedure. Postoperative complications occurred in 40 (37%) patients, being major in 11 (10%) patients with relaparotomy required in 9 (8%) with no difference between South Asian and non-South Asian Caucasian patients. Long-term pouch function, with a median of five times over 24 h (range 2–15), was similar between the two groups. The incidence of pouchitis was 57 (53%) and this was significantly greater in the South Asian population [17/21 (77%); 39/86 (46%); P  = 0.006].
Conclusion  Surgical results were similar in South Asian and non-South Asian Caucasian patients, but the incidence of pouchitis was greater in the former group.     

Anal complications after restorative proctocolectomy (J-pouch)

A prospective assessment was performed to determine the incidence of anal complications after ileoanal J-pouch anastomosis procedures for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). From 1989 to 2000, 75 patients (50 male and 25 female) underwent proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with temporary loop ileostomy for UC (N = 68) and FAP (N = 7). Overall 33 patients (44%) developed anal complications postoperatively. Nineteen patients (25%) had mild anal stenosis amenable to digital dilatation in the office. Ten patients (13%) had severe anal stenosis requiring operative dilatation. Ileostomy closure was delayed longer than 3 months in four patients because of anal stenosis. One patient never had his ileostomy closed secondary to severe anal stenosis. Anal fissures developed in one patient that resolved with conservative treatment. Three patients developed fistula-in-ano and one patient developed a pouch-vaginal fistula. Of these four patients two later manifested signs of Crohn's disease. Four patients developed perirectal abscesses (three without fistulas) that were treated with incision and drainage. Two patients had presacral (anastomotic) abscesses; one patient was treated with temporary anastomotic diversion and the other underwent a permanent ileostomy and pouch resection. Both of these patients were later diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Anal complications developed in 17 of 41 (41%) handsewn anastomoses, 16 of 34 (47%) stapled anastomoses, three of seven (43%) patients with FAP, and 30 of 68 (44%) patients with UC. Operative technique and disease type did not significantly correlate with the type of anal complication. However, hand-sewn anastomoses had a higher incidence of severe strictures and FAP patients did not develop anal abscesses, fistulas, or fissures. Forty-five per cent of our patients with abscesses/fistulas and all of our patients with presacral abscesses from anastomotic dehiscence were later diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Anal complications after ileoanal J-pouch anastomosis are relatively common.     

Review of long-term complications and functional outcomes of ileoanal pouch procedures in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background

In medically refractory Ulcerative Colitis (UC), proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch procedure (IAPP) is the preferred continence-preserving surgical option. Functional outcomes post-surgery and long-term complication rates in the biologic era remain ambiguous. This review primarily aims to provide an update on these outcomes. Secondarily, risk factors associated with chronic pouchitis and pouch failure are explored.

Methods

Two online databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) were searched on 4 October 2022 for English studies from 2011-present relating to long-term outcomes of IAPP in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Adult patients with 12 month follow-up were included. Studies focused on 30-day post-operative outcomes, non-IBD patients or studies including less than 30 patients were excluded.

Results

Following screening and full-text review of 1094 studies, 49 were included. Median sample size was n = 282 (IQR: 116–519). Median incidences for chronic pouchitis and pouch failure were 17.1% (IQR: 12–23.6%) and 6.9% (IQR: 4.8–10.8%), respectively. Upon multivariate analysis, chronic pouchitis development was most significantly associated with pre-operative steroid use, pancolitis and extra-intestinal IBD manifestations, whilst pouch failure was most significantly associated with pre-operative diagnosis of Crohn's disease (compared to UC), peri-operative pelvic sepsis and anastomotic leak. Overall patient satisfaction was very high with four included studies reporting greater than 90% satisfaction rates.

Conclusion

Long-term complications for IAPP were common. However, despite this, patient satisfaction post-IAPP was high. Up-to-date knowledge of complication rates and their risk factors improves pre-operative counselling, management planning and patient outcomes.     

Complications after proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in pediatric patients: A systematic review

Background/purposeColectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the standard of care for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). The rates of postoperative complications are not well established in children. The objective of this systematic review is to establish benchmark data for morbidity after pediatric IPAA.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library were searched for studies of colectomy with IPAA in patients ≤ 21 years old. UC studies were limited to the anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents era (1998–present). All postoperative complications were extracted.ResultsThirteen studies met the inclusion criteria (763 patients). Compared to patients with FAP, UC patients had a higher prevalence of pouch loss (10.6% vs. 1.5%). Other major complications such as anastomotic leak, abscess, and fistula were uncommon (mean prevalence 4.9%, 4.2%, and 5.0%, respectively, for patients with UC; 8.7%, 4.2%, and 4.3% for FAP). The most frequent complication was pouchitis (36.4% of UC patients).ConclusionsDevastating complications from colectomy and IPAA are rare, but patients with UC have poorer outcomes than those with FAP. Much of the morbidity may therefore stem from patient or disease factors. Multicenter, prospective studies are needed to identify modifiable risks in patients with UC undergoing IPAA.Level of evidencePrognostic, level II.     

Pouch reconstruction in the pelvis

ILEAL POUCH RECONSTRUCTION: Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the procedure of choice in mucosal ulcerative colitis (MUC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Because the disease is cured by surgical resection, functional results, pouch survival prognosis, and disease or dysplasia control are the major determinants of success. There is controversy as to whether the IPAA should be handsewn with mucosectomy or stapled, preserving the mucosa of the anal transitional zone. Crohn's disease is a contraindication for IPAA, but long-term outcome after IPAA is similar to that for MUC in patients with indeterminate colitis who do not develop Crohn's disease. As development of dysplasia and cancer in the ileal pouch have been reported, a standardized surveillance program is mandatory in cases of MUC, FAP, and chronic pouchitis. COLONIC POUCH RECONSTRUCTION: Construction of a colonic pouch is a widely accepted technique to improve functional outcome after low or intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer. Several randomized studies comparing colo-pouch-anal anastomosis (CPA) with straight coloanal anastomosis (CAA) have found the pouch functionally superior. Most controlled studies cover only 1-year follow-up, but randomized studies with 2-year follow-up show similar functional results of CPA and CAA. Evacuation difficulty as initially observed was related to pouch size, and the results with smaller pouches (5-6 cm) are more favorable, showing adequate reservoir function without compromising neorectal evacuation. The transverse coloplasty pouch may offer several advantages to J-pouch reconstruction. Current series question whether the neorectal reservoir is the physiological key of the pouch, but rather the decreased motility. The major advantage reported with colonic pouch reconstruction is the lower incidence of anastomotic complications.     

Restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis after liver transplant for primary sclerosing cholangitis: case report and review of literature

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is present in 5 per cent of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Conversely, as many as 90 per cent of patients with PSC have been found to have UC. The accepted treatment for advanced PSC is orthotopic liver transplant, and the treatment of ulcerative colitis with concomitant PSC is restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). A small number of studies have shown that there is an increased risk of pouchitis in UC patients with PSC after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. We report a case of a 45-year-old male who underwent a two-stage restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA after previous orthotopic liver transplant for PSC. We have reviewed the available literature concerning restorative proctocolectomy after liver transplantation, giving special attention to postoperative complications and subsequent development of pouchitis. It is important to be aware of the possibility of increased risk for development of pouchitis and to follow these patients closely to prevent complications.     

Colonic metaplasia in the ileal pouch is associated with inflammation and is not the result of long-term adaptation

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the preferred surgical therapy for chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Previous studies have demonstrated morphologic changes in pouch mucosa such as villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia. These changes have been labeled “colonic metaplasia.” The aims of this study were to determine whether these changes represent “normal” long-term adaptation of the nondiseased pouch or instead are present only in the setting of inflammation. Twenty-four patients were identified, greater than 5 years status post-IPAA for CUC, who underwent pouchoscopy for surveillance and had no history of pouchitis. Thirty-one patients were identified greater than 5 years status post-IPAA for CUC, who had a history of pouchitis and had undergone pouchoscopy at least 5 years status post-IPAA. Eight patients status post-IPAA for FAP were also identified. Biopsy specimens were reevaluated by a single, blinded pathologist for degree of inflammation, the presence of villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia, and evidence of dysplasia. Among the patients with CUC, the inflammation score was greater in the pouchitis group, 13.2 ± 1.2, compared to the nonpouchitis group, 4.0 ± 0.5 (P< 0.0001). Median colonic metaplasia score was greater in the pouchitis group (4 [range 2 to 6]) vs. 2 (9 [range 0 to 6]; P <0.0001). The colonic metaplasia score correlated with the inflammation score (Spearman coefficient r = 0.83; P<0.0001). In the eight patients with FAP, the inflammation score was 5.1 ± 0.9 and the median colonic metaplasia score was 1 (range 0 to 4). There was no evidence of dysplasia in any of the biopsy specimens. Patients without a history of pouchitis or symptoms of pouchitis have only a minimal degree of villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia. These morphologic changes in the ileal pouch are found primarily in the setting of inflammation, and likely represent a reparative response. Presented at the Forty-Third Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Francisco, California, May 19–22, 2002 (oral presentation).     

Poor outcome of a defunctioning stoma after pouch construction for ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND: Restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis can have complications necessitating a later defunctioning ileostomy with uncertain outcome. This analysis was undertaken to assess the outcome in patients needing a later defunctioning ileostomy after pouch construction in patients with ulcerative colitis. METHOD: The notes of our series of 154 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis were reviewed and 28 patients identified who needed a later defunctioning ileostomy to deal with complications. RESULTS: A later defunctioning ileostomy was necessary in 28 patients to deal with the following complications: sepsis in 11 patients (5 pouches failed), fistulas in 7 (5 pouches failed), poor function including ileoanal stenosis in 5 (all 5 failed), postoperative intraabdominal bleeding in 2 (both saved), pouchitis in 2 (1 excised) and small bowel obstruction in 1 (saved). 16 pouches were eventually excised or permanently defunctioned (59%). CONCLUSION: Complications necessitating a later defunctioning stoma after pouch construction carry a poor prognosis, especially when used for ileoanal stenosis and fistulae.     

Carcinoma of pelvic pouch following restorative proctocolectomy: report of a case and review of the literature

One of the possible long-term complications following an ileoanal pouch procedure is the development of malignancy in the mucosa of the rectal stump. Only 10 such cases have been reported so far. We report the case of a 23-year-old male who had ulcerative colitis with high-grade dysplasia and underwent an ileoanal pouch procedure. He was found to have a malignancy in the rectal stump 5 years after surgery. The malignancy presented with symptoms of refractory pouchitis. Pouch excision was performed. The risk of developing malignancy in the rectal mucosa after an ileoanal pouch procedure mandates regular follow-up in these patients, with a high index of suspicion especially in patients with delayed onset pouchitis.     

储袋炎及回肠肛管储袋功能障碍的诊断与治疗

对于经内科治疗无效或出现不典型增生的溃疡性结肠炎以及家族性腺瘤性息肉病患者．回肠储袋肛管吻合（IPAA）的重建性结直肠切除术已成为外科治疗的首选。但溃疡性结肠炎患者IPAA术后除了一般手术并发症外,还容易出现一系列炎性或非炎性并发症,如储袋炎、储袋克罗恩病、直肠残端封套炎或储袋易激综合征,从而影响患者的手术效果及生活质量。储袋炎是溃疡性结肠炎患者IPAA术后最常见的远期并发症．累计患病率可达50％。储袋镜是储袋功能障碍诊断及鉴别诊断的重要手段。储袋炎可根据病因分为“特发性”与“继发性”．其治疗也不尽相同。抗生素治疗是急性储袋炎的主要治疗方法．一些抗生素依赖的患者则需要长期的维持治疗。对抗生素耐药及依赖的储袋炎的处理是比较棘手的．另外．引起继发性储袋炎的病因亦需尽量发现并进行纠正。     

三环形回肠贮袋-肛管吻合术在全结肠切除术中的应用

目的探讨全结肠切除后三环形回肠贮袋-肛管吻合加选择性截流术的价值。方法1994年9月至2004年9月对18例全结肠切除患者应用三环形回肠贮袋加选择性截流术,其中家族性大肠腺瘤性息肉病14例,溃疡性结肠炎4例。结果18例获12月～5年随访,无手术死亡。术后发生并发症3例(16.7%),贮袋阴道瘘、早期炎性肠梗阻、切口感染各1例,均治愈。术后平均排便频率:术后2周内4.9次/d,1个月3.8次/d,6个月3.1次/d,1年1.8次/d。至6个月时都能控制干便,其中控制正常者15例(83.3%),控制欠佳者3例(16.7%),无大便失禁。但稀便控制能力较差,至1年时仍有1例(5.6%)患者稀便失禁。无一例须插管排空。结论全结肠切除后三环形回肠贮袋肛管吻合加选择性截流术操作简单,手术并发症少,术后排便功能好,是家族性大肠腺瘤性息肉病和严重溃疡性结肠炎全结肠切除后较为合适的消化道重建方式。     

Comparison of postoperative outcomes in ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis patients after ileoanal pouch operations

BACKGROUND: Pouchitis is a poorly understood inflammatory condition that occurs in the ileal pouches of patients who have undergone the ileal-pouch anal anastomosis after restorative proctocolectomy. This postoperative condition is much more common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) than familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) colitis. It has been suggested that, owing to pouchitis, UC patients do not attain the same quality of life that FAP patients do after the ileal-pouch anal anastomosis operation. We hypothesized that health-related quality of life does not differ between FAP and UC patients. METHODS: We analyzed the postoperative morbidity and gastrointestinal function in 110 consecutive patients having undergone the ileal-pouch anal anastomosis for either UC or FAP at OU Medical Center from 1983 to 2000 by retrospective record review. Health-related quality of life was assessed in 83 patients using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: With the exception of pouchitis, there was no difference in perioperative outcome, morbidity, or functional status between UC and FAP patients. The SIBDQ and SF-36 revealed no statistically significant difference between FAP and UC patients. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, UC patients are more likely to develop pouchitis. Despite this, our data reveal that both patient groups enjoy a similarly good functional status and quality of life.     

Dysplasia in the ileoanal pouch

Formation of an ileo‐anal pouch is an accepted technique following colectomy in the surgical management of ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The configuration of pouches and anastomotic techniques has varied over the last two decades. The increased use of stapling devices in formation of the pouch‐anal anastomosis avoids the need for endoanal mucosal stripping and may contribute to improved functional results, but leaves a ‘columnar cuff’ of residual rectal mucosa in situ. Concerns regarding the long‐term safety of the ileo‐anal pouch have been raised by reports of the occurrence of dysplasia in the pouch mucosa and 15 cases of adenocarcinoma. In UC, persistence of underlying disease in the residual rectal mucosa, anal transition zone and columnar cuff provides the site for development of dysplasia and malignancy. Pouchitis is unlikely to be a major cause of dysplasia or malignancy, as long‐term follow‐up of patients with Koch pouches has demonstrated. In FAP, any persistent rectal mucosa and mucosa of the small intestine is at risk of adenomatous dysplasia due to the genetic alterations causing the disease. Long‐term surveillance should focus on all FAP pouch patients, and in UC patients should be directed towards the diagnosis of residual rectal mucosa in the area distal to the pouch anastomosis. Specialist histopathological opinion is essential in the diagnosis of dysplasia in the ileo‐anal pouch.     

Incidence and therapeutic outcome of pouchitis for ulcerative colitis in Japanese patients

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the cumulative risk of pouchitis following restorative proctocolectomy for UC and FAP in Japanese patients, and to assess the response to medical treatment and its outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 521 patients with UC and 117 FAP patients underwent proctocolectomy and received a J-shaped IPAA at our department of surgery. We investigated these patients using PDAI for the diagnostic criteria of pouchitis. RESULTS: Pouchitis occurred in only 32 UC patients (6.1%). The cumulative risk of developing pouchitis for a UC patient was 7% at 5 years after and 12% at 10 years after surgery. The medical treatment of acute pouchitis was usually oral metronidazole (250 mg twice daily) for 2 weeks or oral ciprofloxacin (200 mg thrice daily) in patients who could not tolerate metronidazole. Single episodes of pouchitis occurred in 21 patients (65.6%) and chronic or frequent relapses of pouchitis in 11 patients (34.4%). Three patients (9.4%) required re-ileostomy. Two patients (6.3%) required pouch excision. There were no patients with complicated dysplasia. CONCLUSION: The cumulative risk of pouchitis in Japanese UC patients is lower than that of western countries.     

全大肠切除回肠贮袋肛管吻合术的远期疗效评价

目的　探讨全大肠切除回肠贮袋肛管吻合术治疗溃疡性结肠炎 (UC)和家族性腺瘤性息肉病 (FAP)的远期疗效。方法　 1985～ 2 0 0 2年间共对 6 1例患者行全结肠直肠切除回肠贮袋肛管吻合术 ,其中UC 2 5例、FAP 34例、其他 2例 ,应用S袋 2 5例、S J袋 13例、J袋 17例以及W袋 6例 ,术后随诊 1～ 18年、平均 8年 ,比较分析术后控便功能及并发症。结果　全部患者存活。并发症发生率为 16 % ( 10 / 6 1) ,其中UC患者 ( 2 4 % ,6 / 2 5 )高于FAP患者 ( 12 % ,4 / 34) ,W袋高于其他各袋 ,手法吻合 ( 2 0 % ,8/ 4 1)高于吻合器吻合 ( 10 % ,2 / 2 0 ) ,但差异均无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。术后 2 4h大便次数平均为 4 2次。日间 84 % ( 4 3/ 5 1)、夜间 75 % ( 38/ 5 1)的患者排便能自控 ,6 % ( 3/ 5 1)的患者有明显的大便失禁。大部分患者对目前的生活质量表示满意。结论　全大肠切除回肠贮袋肛管吻合术治疗可维持UC与FAP患者肛管自控功能和可接受的大便次数 ,术后并发症较少 ,是较为理想的手术方式     

Stapled ileoanal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis without a temporary diverting ileostomy.

Between March 1989 and August 1990, we performed 21 stapled J pouch ileonal procedures (20 ulcerative colitis [UC], 1 familial polyposis [FP]) without an ileostomy in 19, of whom 13 were taking prednisone and eight underwent semi-emergent surgery for uncontrollable bleeding. During the same time, an additional four patients required a standard ileonal procedure. The results of anal manometry and clinical function were compared to 25 patients who had previously undergone mucosal stripping and a sutured J pouch ileoanal anastomoses with a temporary diverting ileostomy between October 1982 and August 1990. During this same time period, an additional 19 patients underwent an anti-peristaltic reversed J pouch and 18 an S pouch, for a total of 83 ileoanal procedures. The reversed J pouch had a lower stool frequency than a standard J pouch but had an unacceptable incidence of complications and problems with pouch emptying. The S pouch had a stool frequency similar to the standard J pouch but provided greater length in patients with a short mesentery. Stapled J pouch ileoanal patients had a better (p less than 0.02) maximum and sphincter resting pressure (46 +/- 11 versus 34 +/- 12 mmHg), fewer (p less than 0.05) night-time accidents (22% versus 68%), daytime (17% versus 55%) or night-time (28 versus 61%) spotting, or use of a protective pad at night (11% versus 42%) than nonstapled J pouch ileoanal patients. Stool frequency was similar in the two groups. All but one UC patient had residual disease at the anastomosis. Anal mucosa between the dentate line and stapled anastomosis was 1.8 +/- 1.3 cm (range, 0 to 3.5 cm). Complications in the nonstapled J pouch group included 4 pouches excised (2 for complications, 2 for excessive stool frequency), 1 pelvic abscess, 2 stenosis requiring dilation under anesthesia, 1 enterocutaneous fistula after ileostomy closure, 1 ileostomy site hernia, and 2 small bowel obstructions. Of the 65 patients who underwent ileostomy closure in the entire series, 8 (12%) developed a complication requiring surgical intervention. Complications in the stapled group included 1 anastomotic leak, 1 pouch leak, and 1 pelvic abscess. Patients were managed successfully with drainage (all 3) and diverting ileostomy (1). One patient developed stenosis requiring dilation under anesthesia. The stapled J pouch ileoanal anastomosis is a simpler, safer procedure with less tension than a standard handsewn J pouch but leaves a very small cuff of residual disease. It provides significantly better stool control and may obviate the need for an ileostomy with its complications.     

Prä- und postoperative Lebensqualität von Patienten mit Colitis ulcerosa und familiärer adenomatöser Polyposis bei ileoanaler Pouchoperation

After ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), in addition to postoperative morbidity and functional outcome quality of life is a relevant factor for assessment of the operation's success. Between 1982 and 1997 restorative proctocolectomy was performed in 602 patients (UC: n = 424; FAP: n = 178) at the Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg. The assessment of pre- and postoperative quality of life was done through a prospective study (before restorative proctocolectomy, before and 1 year after closure of ileostomy). This study (UC: n = 27; FAP: n = 7) revealed a poor preoperative quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis. Proctocolectomy is the decisive factor for the improvement of quality of life in the surgical treatment in UC. Quality of life could not be further significantly improved by ileostomy closure. Before proctocolectomy, FAP patients showed a quality of life, activity and function similar to that of healthy controls. In FAP patients proctocolectomy led to a significant loss of quality of life. This loss could only partly be regained by ileostomy closure. Quality of life and activity comparable to that of healthy controls can be achieved in UC patients by restorative proctocolectomy.