Surgical Options for Appropriate Length of J-Pouch Construction for Better Outcomes and Long-term Quality of Life in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis after Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis

Background/Aims

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is widely accepted as a radical surgery for refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Definite results on the appropriate pouch length for an evaluation of the risk-to-benefit ratio regarding technical complications and long-term quality of life (QOL) are still scarce.

Methods

Data on UC patients who underwent IPAA from 2008 to 2022 in four well-established pouch centers affiliated to China UC Pouch Center Union were collected.

Results

A total of 208 patients with a median follow-up time of 6.0 years (interquartile range, 2.3 to 9.0 years) were enrolled. The median lengths of the patients' short and long pouches were 14.0 cm (interquartile range, 14.0 to 15.0 cm) and 22.0 cm (interquartile range, 20.0 to 24.0 cm), respectively. Patients with a short J pouch configuration were less likely to achieve significantly improved long-term QOL (p=0.015) and were prone to develop late postoperative complications (p=0.042), such as increased defecation frequency (p=0.003) and pouchitis (p=0.035). A short ileal pouch was an independent risk factor for the development of late postoperative complications (odds ratio, 3.100; 95% confidence interval, 1.519 to 6.329; p=0.002) and impaired longterm QOL improvement (odds ratio, 2.221; 95% confidence interval, 1.218 to 4.050, p=0.009).

Conclusions

The length of the J pouch was associated with the improvement in long-term QOL and the development of late post-IPAA complications. A long J pouch configuration could be a considerable surgical option for pouch construction.