Constipation: another indication for restorative proctocolectomy.

We have extended our experience of restorative proctocolectomy and ileoanal anastomosis to include 13 patients with functional bowel disorders. Eight had recurrent constipation after colectomy for slow transit constipation and five had constipation and overflow incontinence associated with megarectum and megacolon. In all cases the only alternative was a permanent stoma. Despite a high complication rate, 11 patients (85 per cent) felt that the operation had been worthwhile with improvement of their symptoms and quality of life. The operation led to a mean frequency of defaecation of 4.8 times (range 2-8) during the day, and 1.2 times (range 0-4) during the night. There was no frank incontinence and, while only one patient experienced soiling during the day, six patients suffered from night-time soiling. Two patients have had the pouch converted to an ileostomy due to persistent complications and a poor functional result.