Ileoanal pouch dysfunction and the use of a Medena catheter following hospital discharge

With the advent of new surgical techniques to manage colorectal disease, the number of ileoanal pouch operations has amplified and therefore increased numbers of pouch patients are being discharged into the community setting. Community nurses will now encounter the ileoanal pouch patient and may be required to manage related complications. Restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch anastomosis (RPC) has become established as the gold standard operation for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and selected patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Using a reservoir constructed from small bowel as a substitute rectum is a medical triumph which in the majority of cases improves the quality of life for patients, not only by eradicating disease and preserving anal sphincter function but also by avoiding a permanent ileostomy. Recent investigation into the use of Medena catheterization for pouch dysfunction has found that it is tolerated in the long-term and is associated with satisfactory quality of life in pouch patients with outflow obstruction.