Continent ileostomy. A follow-up study of 60 patients.

Sixty patients underwent proctocolectomy and received a continent ileostomy because of ulcerative colitis (50 cases) familial polyposis (7) or Crohn's disease (3), with no deaths at surgery or during follow-up (mean 4.5 years, range 3 months-10 years). Early complications were few and insignificant. Late complications (nipple-valve sliding and pouch ileitis) were more common, and 15 patients with valve sliding causing leakage had to undergo altogether 22 reoperations. Three reservoirs had to be removed because of refractory pouch ileitis. Modifications in nipple-valve construction in the last 40 cases diminished the problem of sliding. More than 90% of the patients reported improved quality of life after conversion of conventional to continent ileostomy. Continent ileostomy remains an excellent alternative to ileoanal anastomosis with proximal reservoir for patients who cannot accept conventional ileostomy or when an ileoanal anastomosis with reservoir functions unsatisfactorily or is otherwise unsuitable.