Salvage surgery for continent ileostomies (CI) after a first successful revision: more long-term blame on the reservoir than the nipple valve.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying cause of long-term complications in patients requiring at least one revision surgery of a continent ileostomy (CI) and to analyze functional outcome. METHODS: Only patients with CI at least one revision were included in the retrospective data analysis. Four different classes of complications (Cl A-D) were defined: Cl A = Nipple valve (NV), Cl B = pouch, Cl C = outlet (stoma), and Cl D = afferent loop (AL). Associations between underlying disease and origin of complications were analyzed. Cumulative probabilities were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients were identified with a follow-up of 30 years, requiring 133 surgeries for 148 complications (c.). Cl A 49 c. (33.1%), Cl B 50 c. (33.8%), Cl C 39 c. (26.4%), and Cl D 10 c. (6.8%). Cl A and C complications were not correlated to underlying disease, whereas Cl B and D complications were only found in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The cumulative probability of a second revision showed a linear rise, reaching 62.5% after 20 years. Cl A and B complications both reached 42.1%. Eleven (14.3%) patients (10 Cl B) had pouch failure in a follow-up period of 11.5 ± 8.7 years (1-31 years), whereas 66 (85.7%) had successful revisional surgery. Overall CI survival was 78.8% at 44 years. CONCLUSION: CI survival is limited by inflammatory complications of the pouch based on the underlying disease and not by mechanical limitations of the NV. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: None.

Conversion of ileo-pouch anal anastomosis to continent ileostomy: strategic surgical considerations and outcome.

AIM: The aim was to evaluate surgical strategies for conversion of failed ileo-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) to continent ileostomy (CI), taking morbidity and overall outcome into account. The hypothesis was that complex conversions are equivalent to the primary construction of a CI at the time of proctocolectomy. METHOD: This was a retrospective analysis of IPAA conversions acknowledging the underlying disease (inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and non-IBD) and extent of pouch reconstruction (PR): type 1 (without PR), type 2 (partial PR), and type 3 (complete PR). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (IBD, n = 16; non-IBD, n = 10) were converted (type 1, n = 13; type 2, n = 7; and type 3, n = 6).12/26 patients (46.2%) presented postoperative complications directly related to the conversion with scarification of two pouches. In a mean follow-up time of 7.5 ± 6.6 years, 5/24 patients required revisional surgery. Of these, three required pouch excision. The cumulative probability of reoperation at the end of the second year increased to 21.7% and remained constant thereafter until the maximum follow-up time of 26 years. The total pouch loss rate was 19.2% (5/26), of which all occurred in the first 3 years. No statistically significant differences were found between the conversion types, complications or pouch survival. For all parameters, IBD patients performed slightly unfavourably. Due to the overall small number of respective patients, a differentiated investigation of IBD was not performed. CONCLUSION: Complex conversion procedures (types 1 and 2) deliver comparable long-term results to new constructions (type 3), thereby limiting the loss of small bowel. IBD compromises outcome versus non-IBD.

Don't Forget about the K-Pouch!

The continent ileostomy (CI) was popularized by Nils Kock as a means to provide fecal continence to patients, most commonly in those with ulcerative colitis, after proctocolectomy. Although the ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) now represents the most common method to restore continence after total proctocolectomy, CI remains a suitable option for highly selected patients who are not candidates for IPAA or have uncorrectable IPAA dysfunction but still desire fecal continence. The CI has exhibited a fascinating and marked evolution over the past several decades, from the advent of the nipple-valve to a distinct pouch design, giving the so-inclined and so-trained colorectal surgeon a technique that provides the unique patient with another option to restore continence. The CI continues to offer a means for appropriately selected patients to achieve the highest possible quality of life (QOL) and functional status after total proctocolectomy.

Percutaneous Stone Removal in an Adult with a Continent Cutaneous Reservoir: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Stone formation is a known long-term complications of continent urinary reservoirs. We present a rare case of a large stone in a continent cutaneous reservoir in a 56-year-old male managed with percutaneous cystolithotomy. The patient presented with recurrent urinary tract infections and stomal incontinence. CT revealed an 8-cm stone occupying the entire lumen of his reservoir. Rather than removing this large stone through an open approach, the pouch was accessed percutaneously and lithotripsy was performed. In this report, we demonstrate our operative technique and that percutaneous cystolithalopaxy may be a safe and effective alternative for the management of large stones within continent cutaneous reservoirs.

Evolution of continent ileostomy.

Continent ileostomy can be defined as a surgical procedure that facilitates planned intermittent evacuation of a bowel reservoir through an ileostomy. It was devised by Nils Kock in 1969. Subsequently, continent ileostomy (or Kock pouch) became a viable alternative in the management of patients who had traditionally required an end ileostomy. Kock pouch appeared to provide substantial physical and psychosocial benefits over a conventional ileostomy. The procedure became popular until ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) was introduced in 1980. Despite its benefits, continent ileostomy had many short term complications including intubation problems, ileus, anastomotic leaks, peritonitis and valve problems. Operative mortalities have also been reported in the literature. Most of these problems have been eliminated with increasing experience; however, valve-related problems remain as an "Achilles' heel" of the technique. Many modifications have been introduced to prevent this problem. Some patients have had their pouch removed because of complications mainly related to valve dysfunction. Although revision rates can be high, most of the patients who retain their reservoirs are satisfied with regard to their health status and quality of life. Today, this procedure is still appropriate for selected patients for whom pouch surgery is not possible or for patients who have failed IPAA. Both the patient and their physician must be highly motivated to accept the risk of failure and the subsequent need for revisional operations.

Continent ileostomy: current status.

Continent ileostomy (Kock pouch) is an alternative to end ileostomy for patients who have undergone total proctocolectomy. The procedure reached its height of popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but has been supplanted by restorative proctocolectomy, an operation that preserves the natural route of defecation. Continent ileostomy is still appropriate for selected patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis who are not candidates for restorative proctocolectomy, for whom restorative proctocolectomy or end ileostomy have failed, and in a few other selected cases. Complication rates have decreased during the past three decades following technical improvements, but remain significant. In this review, the author summarizes the current indications for continent ileostomy, examines recent technical modifications, and discusses the management of complications.

Clinical aspects of continent ileostomies.

Continent ileostomy (Kock pouch) is an alternative to end ileostomy for patients who have undergone total proctocolectomy. The procedure reached the height of its popularity soon after its introduction in 1969, but subsequently was supplanted by ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), an operation that preserves the natural route of defecation. Continent ileostomy is still appropriate for selected patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis who are not candidates for IPAA or for whom IPAA or end ileostomy have failed. Complication rates that initially were high have decreased during the past three decades following the steady introduction of technical improvements.