Ileostomy diarrhea

Ileostomy diarrhea is not an uncommon problem and can lead to considerable loss of quality of life. Unfortunately, well-designed therapeutic trials are lacking, and thus, treatment of patients with ileostomy diarrhea remains largely empiric. The majority of individuals will have "idiopathic" ileostomy diarrhea, or increased output due to proctocolectomy with limited ileal resection alone. Once other, less common causes are excluded, empiric treatment should be initiated with the safest, least costly option. In general, this consists of a dietary evaluation and symptomatic treatment with loperamide and advancing as needed to other, more expensive options, frequently with an increase in side effect profile. Other more recently evaluated treatment options include budesonide and oleic acid; however, efficacy has only been demonstrated in preliminary studies; further evaluation is needed. Limited data exist regarding success of surgical therapy such as reversed peristaltic ileal segments. It remains to be seen if surgery, other than ileostomy revision, has a role in the treatment of ileostomy diarrhea.