Pouchitis following restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis: incidence and therapeutic outcome

Pouchitis is a significant sequel of restorative proctocolectomy. This study was undertaken to document the incidence of pouchitis at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and to assess outcome of treatment with metronidazole.

Patients who developed pouchitis following restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis form the basis of this study. Pouchitis was suspected if patients developed diarrhoea with or without blood, mucus or pus. Diagnosis was confirmed with pouch endoscopy and biopsy.

From 1990 to 1999 (10 years) 139 patients underwent restorative proctocolectomy and ileo-anal pouch anastomosis (135 J pouches and 4 W pouches). Their median age was 35 years (range 13-74). There were 68 females and 71 males. The indication for operation was failed medical treatment in 104 patients and toxic megacolon in 35. Forty-seven patients (34%) developed pouchitis (21 females and 26 males). Symptoms were diarrhoea (35), diarrhoea, mucus and pus (5) and diarrhoea and blood (7). Symptoms of pouchitis started at an average of 33.51 + 29.2 months (range 2-102, median 18). All patients were treated with metronidazole for a minimum of one month. Thirty-six patients (77%) resolved on metronidazole alone. Nine patients (19%) went on to develop chronicity and were managed by long-term metronidazole (and/or ciprofloxacin). A further 2 patients (4%) had treatment resistant pouchitis and required pouch excision.

Pouchitis is common following restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. Treatment with metronidazole is associated with improvement in the majority of cases. In patients with chronic pouchitis maintenance of remission is possible with antibiotics. A high index of suspicion is advocated in patients who develop severe diarrhoea following this procedure.