Physiologic evaluation and surgical management of failed ileoanal pouch

Following proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, a small percentage of patients will have poor functional results attributable to pouchitis or anastomotic or septic complications. Additionally, functional failures can occur secondary to limited pouch capacity and compliance. We present five such patients managed with operative conversion to W-ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and examined physiologic parameters important for improving functional results.

Five female patients (mean age, 30 (range, 24-39) years) with poorly functioning J-ileal pouch-anal anastomoses were referred for evaluation with symptoms of high stool frequency and incontinence problems. Three had severe nocturnal incontinence, and the remaining two patients experienced minor nocturnal incontinence. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation included barium pouch studies, flexible sigmoidoscopy, anal manometry, evacuation volume, and pouch compliance. Pouch-to-anal pressure gradients were calculated. To improve reservoir capacity and compliance, all five patients underwent conversion to W-ileal pouch-anal anastomoses.

Twenty-four hour and nocturnal stool frequencies decreased from 13.8+/-1.7 and 3+/-1.3 to 5.8+/-0.3 and 0.3+/-0.2 postconversion (P < 0.05). Mean pouch evacuation volume increased from 83+/-27 to 290+/-29 ml postoperatively (P < 0.05). Pouch compliance increased from 2.7+/-0.5 mmHg/ml to 7.7+/-0.6 mmHg/ml postconversion (P < 0.05). Improvement in postconversion stool frequency correlated with an increase in pouch evacuation volume (r=-0.87). All patients reported improved day and nocturnal continence, despite no significant change between preoperative and postoperative anal manometric pressures. Improved continence correlated with a significant widening of the pouch-to-anal pressure gradients, which increased from 5 to 25 mmHg at 150 ml following pouch conversion.

Poorly functioning ileal reservoirs secondary to limited capacity and compliance can be successfully managed with conversion to W-ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The increased pouch capacity is associated with improvement in compliance and widening of the pouch-to-anal pressure gradients, providing excellent functional results.