The continent ileostomy: a collective review

Continent ileostomy: current status

Continent ileostomy (Kock pouch) is an alternative to end ileostomy for patients who have undergone total proctocolectomy. The procedure reached its height of popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but has been supplanted by restorative proctocolectomy, an operation that preserves the natural route of defecation. Continent ileostomy is still appropriate for selected patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis who are not candidates for restorative proctocolectomy, for whom restorative proctocolectomy or end ileostomy have failed, and in a few other selected cases. Complication rates have decreased during the past three decades following technical improvements, but remain significant. In this review, the author summarizes the current indications for continent ileostomy, examines recent technical modifications, and discusses the management of complications.

Clinical aspects of continent ileostomies

Continent ileostomy (Kock pouch) is an alternative to end ileostomy for patients who have undergone total proctocolectomy. The procedure reached the height of its popularity soon after its introduction in 1969, but subsequently was supplanted by ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), an operation that preserves the natural route of defecation. Continent ileostomy is still appropriate for selected patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis who are not candidates for IPAA or for whom IPAA or end ileostomy have failed. Complication rates that initially were high have decreased during the past three decades following the steady introduction of technical improvements.

Continent ileostomy: current experience

PURPOSE

This study was designed to review our recent experience with continent ileostomies and evaluate patient outcomes.

METHODS

Retrospective chart reviews and phone interviews of patients who underwent a continent ileostomy operation from 1993 to 2003 at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation were performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients (19 females; age range, 22-73 years) had construction of continent ileostomies (modified Kock pouch). There were no intraoperative mortalities or stoma-related deaths. The mean operating room time for primary construction was 3.9 +/- 0.57 hours with a mean length of stay of 7 +/- 2 days. The average follow-up period was 66 (range, 6-134) months. The most common underlying indication for the construction of a continent ileostomy was ulcerative colitis (71 percent). Thirteen patients had a continent ileostomy created for conversion of a Brooke ileostomy and seven for a failed ileoanal pouch. Other indications included colonic inertia and incontinence in three patients and one patient who had failed multiple operations for Hirschsprung's disease. A total of 28 revisions were performed in 14 patients (58 percent). Six patients required multiple procedures. Operative revisions included 12 skin level revision for stenosis, 11 operations for valve repairs, and 1 each for peristomal hernia repair, stomal relocation, and pouch repair for fistulas. Two patients had their pouches removed (Crohn's disease and inability to manage pouch). The need for revision by 12 months was 29 percent, and the average time period before the first revision was 24 months (range, 4 days to 109 months). The overall failure rate (converted to conventional ileostomy) was only 8.3 percent. Ninety percent of the patients have continent pouches and are satisfied with their pouch function.

CONCLUSIONS

Continent ileostomies continue to have a high rate of reoperations, reasonable functional results, and are a viable option for failed ileal pouch-anal pouch patients. Surgeons electing to perform continent ileostomies must carefully select their patients and advise them of the high potential for reoperations. Despite a high reoperation rate, patients are pleased with their continent ileostomies.

Refractory pouchitis: does it reflect underlying Crohn's disease?

Typical 'pouchitis' is a well recognised complication of ileal pouches in ulcerative colitis. Infrequently, a refractory pouchitis (RP) presents with certain clinical, endoscopic, and pathological features resembling Crohn's disease and is often ascribed to misdiagnosis of the initial colitis. To test that hypothesis and to identify risk factors for RP, this study reviewed cases of presumed ulcerative colitis with ileal pouches constructed at The Mount Sinai Hospital between 1973 and 1986. Twenty four cases with RP (16 Kock pouches and eight pelvic pouches) and 21 controls were compared for eight clinical variables. The original colectomy slides from 15 RP and 18 control cases were reviewed blindly, classified into five histological categories (corresponding to definite ulcerative colitis, definite Crohn's disease, and three indeterminate groups), and scored for 23 histological features. There were no significant clinical differences between RP and control cases except for more frequent extraintestinal manifestations (38% v 5%) and male preponderance (79% v 43%) in RP. There were also no significant differences between the distributions of RP cases and controls among the five histological categories or in the 23 histological features studied. Refractory pouchitis therefore does not seem to reflect underlying Crohn's disease, but may be linked to immunological mechanisms that are manifested clinically as extraintestinal complications.

Alternatives to conventional ileostomy in chronic ulcerative colitis

As long as surgeons have performed total proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy, efforts have been made to avoid the necessity for a permanent stoma. Preservation of sphincter function can now be achieved by more liberal application of the operation of abdominal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis in carefully selected patients, and knowledge of the progression from dysplasia to cancer can be applied in a prospective fashion to those persons potentially at risk who have retained rectal mucosa. Individuals who are incapable of dealing with conventional permanent ileostomy and who lack the potential use of their own sphincters can be offered the alternative of a continent ileostomy. The advantages of both of these procedures can be combined by greater application of the operation of total abdominal colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and ileoanal reservoir with ileoanal anastomosis. Although enthusiasm exists for all of these procedures, their results should be compared with the results of what must still be considered the "gold standard" operation, that is, proctocolectomy and conventional ileostomy. Nevertheless, the alternative procedures represent a considerable advance in the overall care of patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.

A new type of continent ileostomy. Results of an animal study

Kock's continent ileostomy is a well-established technique, however, it is technically difficult to construct and has a high incidence of complications. This study evaluates a new type of mucosal valve constructed in continuity with an intestinal reservoir. The valve is created along the antimesenteric border of the efferent limb 0.5 cm distal to the reservoir. The seromuscular layer is "stripped" from the mucosal layer for 50 per cent of the bowel circumference and then excised. The remaining seromuscular borders are then sutured to the apex of the pouch and along the antimesenteric border of the afferent limb. In this way the valve is created and, upon distention of the afferent limb and apex of the pouch, the valve closes. In seven dogs such a continent ileostomy was constructed and all were clinically continent. The reservoirs were intubated through the ileostomy two to three times a day. The mean volume aspirated was 143 ml/day. After eight weeks, radiographic and volume-pressure studies were performed. Prior to sacrifice, increasing volumes of barium were instilled into each pouch via the afferent limb and radiographs were taken: these studies confirmed the continence in all seven ileostomies. Following this the reservoirs were intubated and the instilled barium was aspirated. Then Ringer's solution was instilled into each pouch with continuous intrapouch pressure measurements. The pressure remained at 0 cmH2O until a mean volume of 243 ml was exceeded. The mean volume at which incontinence occurred was 415 ml.

Fistula following continent ileostomy

A patient who developed a fistula secondary to Marlex mesh in the nipple valve of a continent ileostomy is reported. Etiology and management of fistula following continent ileostomy are discussed. Fistula formation should be recognized as a potential hazard of the use of prosthetic material to stabilize the nipple valve of a continent ileostomy.

The Kock reservoir ileostomy: a review of its development, problems and role in modern surgical practice

The Kock continent ileostomy reservoir was designed in an attempt to overcome many of the problems associated with the conventional ileostomy. An account is given of the technical developments of this procedure since its inception. An intussusception valve within the reservoir is necessary for continence. However, valve failure is a common problem and the developments in construction which have helped to overcome this are described. The major complications associated with the continent ileostomy are discussed in detail, and an attempt is made to define its present role in the treatment of inflammatory disease of the colon.

The Kock ileostomy reservoir: an experimental study of methods of improving valve stability and competence

The performances of four valve designs which have been used in clinical practice in the Kock continent ileostomy reservoir were examined and compared to four further modifications in an experimental study on dogs. It was found that a stable valve could be consistently produced by subjecting the gut, which forms the valve, to deep seromuscular diathermy and by excluding in mesentery completely from the intussusception. Construction of the valve with the autosuture GIA Stapling device shortened the operating time considerably but did not improve on valvular stability.

Loop ileostomy for protection of the newly constructed ileostomy reservoir

Sixteen patients submitted to reservoir ileostomy were at the same time given a proximal loop ileostomy to defunction the reservoir for 2-3 months. All made smooth recoveries in the immediate postoperative period both before and after the closure of the loop ileostomy. During follow-up of at least 12 months the function of the reservoir ileostomy has been excellent except in one patient who developed dysfunction of the nipple valve requiring reoperation. On the basis of this experience, it is suggested that a temporary defunction loop ileostomy is a wise precaution in connection with reservoir ileostomy, which may lessen the incidence of complications and reduce the risks of later valve extrusion.

Mucosal enteritis: a complication of the continent ileostomy

Mucosal enteritis, a nonspecific inflammation of both the mucosa and submucosa, is a complication seen in 13 per cent to 43 per cent of patients with a continent ileostomy. Six cases are presented with emphasis on history, diagnosis, and treatment. Because the inflammation is secondary to an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in a functional blind loop, treatment consists of drainage and antibiotics. Metronidazole may be the drug of choice. Refractory cases will benefit only by resection and conversion to a Brooke ileostomy.

Magnetic closure of a reservoir ileostomy

A technique is described for use of the magnetic stoma ileal Maclet for closure of terminal ileostomies. By this method, continence has been accomplished in two patients after total coloproctectomy for famillial polyposis. The first patient has been followed for three years, the second for four months.

Complications of continent ileostomy

Immediate postoperative complications occurred in 15 per cent of 39 patients undergoing continent ileostomy, and late complications developed in 46 per cent of these patients. Age over 40 years, obesity, and Crohn's disease were related to the morbidity rate, but corticosteroid therapy was not a factor. Results of primary operations were superior to those of secondary continent ileostomies. With careful selection of patients and attention to technical detail, success in 90 per cent of initial continent ileostomy operations is a realistic goal.