Long-Term Results Of The Continent Ileostomy

Proctocolectomy and permanent ileostomy is well established as a safe and effective means of treating polyposis coli, chronic ulcerative colitis and sometimes Crohn’s colitis, but at the price of a permanent ileostomy. An ileostomy may not be acceptable to all patients and earlier attempts to avoid this have mostly involved preservation of the rectal stump and an ileorectal anastomosis. Such a procedure, however, requires a relatively healthy rectum and this is uncommon in colitis. It also retains potentially malignant tissue, thus requiring lifetime follow-up care: cancer may develop in the rectal stump despite regular surveillance.