Restorative proctocolectomy with J reservoir in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

The results of 16 cases of restorative proctocolectomy with J-pouch and ileoanal anastomosis performed for ulcerative colitis, associated with polyposis in one, and for diffuse polyposis in the last one, are reported. Satisfactory functional results as for continence, number of daily bowel movements and with moderate nocturnal leakage in a single patient, were obtained. The anal sphincter function, assessed manometrically about one year after surgery was shown to be normal in all cases except for the loss of sphincteric and inhibitory reflex. In spite of the still debated problems, it is concluded that this procedure based on the absence of operative mortality, acceptable morbidity and satisfactory long-term results, is the treatment of choice in surgery of ulcerative colitis with severe rectal lesions or dysplasia and of familial polyposis with carpeting rectum and/or cancer.