[Restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis]

From 1987-1994 we performed 35 proctocolectomies with ileal pouch anal anastomosis. The indication for operation was ulcerative colitis in 29 and familial polyposis in 6. The mean ages at operation were 35 and 25 years, respectively. The most common postoperative complication was small bowel obstruction in 25% of the patients, requiring re-operation in half of them. The incidence of this complication may be reduced by operating in only 1 stage when possible, without creating a protective ileostomy. The second serious complication was pouchitis, in 17%, which was controlled by antibiotics. There has been no mortality. All patients, except for 2 with an S-shaped pouch, evacuate spontaneously a mean of 5 bowel movements a day. Continence was mildly impaired (usually night-staining of a pad) in 30% of patients in whom the pouch-anal anastomosis was performed after stripping the mucosa of the rectal remnant. In those in whom the pouch-anal anastomosis was performed by means of the double stapling technique, continence was almost completely preserved. We therefore recommend that proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis be performed in 1 stage when possible, using the double stapling technique. Staged operation should be reserved for severely ill patients, or when stripping of the rectal mucosa is performed for familial polyposis and ulcerative colitis with severe dysplasia.