Refashioned short bowel segments for the construction of catheterizable channels (the Monti procedure): early clinical experience.

PURPOSE: We report the early results of a new surgical procedure to construct a catheterizable stoma from a small segment of bowel according to the Monti technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since November 1996, 4 male and 4 female patients with a mean age of 14 years have undergone the Monti procedure in association with other reconstructive efforts. Indications included the unavailability of appendix because of concomitant ACE Malone appendicocecostomy in 2 patients, atretic appendixes in 3, previous appendectomy in 2 and technical difficulties during appendix isolation in 1. In no patient was small bowel used instead of a suitable appendix. Other simultaneous surgical procedures included bladder augmentation in 4 patients in whom the bowel tube and patch for augmentation were created with the same mesenteric pedicle (ileum in 3 and sigmoid colon in 1). RESULTS: Followup ranged from 3 to 11 months (mean 7). No patient has had difficulty with catheterization or any other problems related to the stoma. In 2 patients stomal leakage required additional procedures and pharmacological manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: The appendiceal Mitrofanoff procedure remains the technique of choice for the construction of catheterizable continent stomas. In the absence of a suitable appendix a catheterizable bowel conduit based on the Monti technique appears to be the best alternative in our early experience. The short segment of bowel required for conduit construction, excellent blood supply throughout its length, and the possibility of developing the tube and bowel patch for simultaneous augmentation from the same pedicle are some of the clear advantages of this technique.