Intermittent torsion of a megapouch: report of a case

Characterization of megapouch in patients with restorative proctocolectomy

BACKGROUND

Megapouch is a rare functional complication of restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis characterized by pouch ± small bowel dilatation with no evidence of obstruction on endoscopy and imaging. Little is known about clinical characteristics and outcomes of this entity.

METHODS

We included all patients diagnosed with megapouch at our institution, identified from a pouch database. Data on baseline characteristics, management, and outcomes were documented and analyzed from electronic medical records. Appropriate statistical measures were used. p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients with megapouch were identified. The mean age was 40.7 years; 95.6% had underlying ulcerative colitis; most common indication for colectomy was medically refractory disease (56.5%). Abdominal pain (82.6%) and bloating (52.2%) were most common presenting symptoms. Most common finding on pouchoscopy was pouch dilatation (81.8%), while barium or gastrografin enemas and MRI/CT mostly revealed dilatation of pouch and/or small bowel. Fourteen (66.7%) patients required some forms of surgery-six patients required pouch excision and three required either pouch redo or revision. Rates of pouch failure and IBD-related 1-year hospitalization were higher among patients managed surgically versus those managed medically (p = 0.007 and 0.024, respectively), while need for escalation of IBD-therapy was comparable between the groups (p = 0.133). No deaths were reported and no patient had recurrence of megapouch. IPAA revision or redo did not lead to more IBD-related morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Majority of our patients with megapouch required surgery. In selected patients, redo pouch offered cure. Rates of pouch failure and IBD-related 1-year hospitalization were higher among patients managed surgically.

A selective approach to restorative proctocolectomy without ileostomy: a single centre experience

OBJECTIVE

A single surgeon series on complications and functional outcomes following restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) is presented.

METHOD

An ethically-approved database was used to collect data on all patients undergoing RPC at a single institution. Patient demographics, operative details, complications and functional outcomes were assessed. The impact of ileostomy omission on outcomes was also assessed.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients undergoing RPC between 1987 and 2006 were included. There were 122 (61.0%) males and the mean age at surgery was 37.6 years. A J pouch was constructed in 199 (99.5%) patients and an ileostomy omitted in 160 (80.0%). Since adopting a selective policy after the 36th consecutive patient in the series, only 9 (5.5%) patients have had an ileostomy constructed at the time of pouch construction. Complications occurred in 112 (56.3%) patients, with anastomotic stricture (20.6%) and pouchitis (28.6%) being the most common. Anastomotic stricture was more common in those patients receiving an ileostomy (43.6%vs 15.0%, P < 0.001), as were pouch-cutaneous fistulae (5.1%vs 0.6%, P = 0.039) and pelvic sepsis (15.4%vs 5.0%, P = 0.023). Functional outcomes were good, with median 24-h stool frequency of five motions at 1 year. There was increased urgency to defaecate which in part may be due to a significant decline in the use of antidiarrhoeal medication during follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective omission of a covering ileostomy in most cases can produce good results following RPC with no increase in the risk of septic complications or pouch failure, and a decreased risk of anastomotic stricture, with maintenance of good function in the majority.