OUTCOME OF POUCH SURGERY FOR ULCERATIVE COLITIS: SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Aim: The purpose of the present study is to present the experience of our center in surgical management of ulcerative colitis (UC), stressing on evaluating the outcome of pouch surgery. Methods: Fifty eight patients underwent surgery for UC between 1996 and 2007 at Mansoura Gastroenterology Center. A retrospective analysis has been done of all patients with UC undergoing surgery which includes details of the patient s history, indication of surgery, type of operation, postoperative morbidity, and functional outcome. Results: The main indication for operation was failed medical treatment (n=42, 72.4%). Pouch surgery was performed in 25/58 patients (43.1%). The majority of patients, 23/25 (92%) had J-shaped pouch. Twenty patients (80%) had a defunctioning ileostomy. There was one postoperative death after pouch surgery. Early complications after pouch surgery included pelvic sepsis (n-4), small bowel obstruction (n-2), pouch hemorrhage (n=l), wound sepsis (n=3). The most common long-term complication after pouch surgery (n=14) was anastomotic stricture (n=9, 42.6%). Five patients (35.7%) presented with pouchitis. Median daytime stool frequency was 5.1. Three patients (21.4%) presented with fecal incontinence. Conclusion: Pouch surgery is a major one that attains many complications. However, the long term results and patient s satisfaction are reasonable