Management of pouch dysfunction in a tertiary centre.

Abstract

Restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the operation of choice for ulcerative colitis (UC) and some cases of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Although it offers improvement in quality of life and high patient satisfaction, pouch surgery is also associated with significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to describe the management of patients referred to a tertiary centre with pouch dysfunction. All patients referred with pouch dysfunction from other institutions between October 2006 and November 2014 were included in this retrospective study. Information regarding initial diagnosis before RPC, type of procedure, symptoms leading to referral, relation of the appearance of symptoms to the ileostomy closure, investigations, final diagnosis, treatment and follow-up was reviewed. One hundred and twenty-one patients were included, having had RPC mostly for UC (94%), and with diverting ileostomy (83%). The most frequent reasons for referral were high frequency of defaecation in 83 (69%) patients, abdominal pain and incontinence in 45 (37%) each and perianal pain in 44 (36%). The principal investigations performed were pouchoscopy in 97 (80%) patients, examination under anaesthesia (EUA) in 62 (51%), pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 56 (46%) and contrast radiology of the pouch (pouchogram) in 45 (35%). The commonest diagnoses were pouchitis (primary and secondary) in 24 (21%) patients and anastomotic leakage in 26 (22%). After full investigation a cause for the symptoms could not be found in 24 (20%) patients, resulting in the diagnosis of exclusion of 'irritable pouch syndrome' or functional disorder. The treatments given were long-term antibiotic therapy in 29 (25%) patients, ileostomy in 19 (16%), use of a Medena catheter to promote anal evacuation in 17 (15%) and dilatation of a stenosis under anaesthetic in 12 (10%). Six (5%) patients underwent major revision surgery of the pouch with a defunctioning ileostomy and the pouch was excised in another six (5%). Patients with ileoanal pouch dysfunction often have multiple symptoms. This study shows that a wide range of investigations and treatment modalities need to be available to manage such patients, with a specialized approach in a multidisciplinary setting.