[The swiss experience of ileo-anal anastomosis with reservoir (AIA). Complications and functional results].

Two hundred and thirteen ileal pouch-anal anastomoses were performed in Switzerland from August 1980 to December 1991, 174 (82%) of them in 7 centres. One hundred and sixty four patients (77%) were operated for ulcerative colitis, 47 (22%) for familial polyposis and 2 others (1%) for another reason. A J pouch was created in 176 cases (83%), an S pouch in 35 cases (16%) and a W pouch in 2 cases (1%). Detailed results were available for 157 (74%) of the 213 operated patients: 81 females (52%) and 76 males (48%) with a mean age of 33.5 years (10-65). One hundred and twenty seven patients (81%) were operated for ulcerative colitis, including 42 as an emergency, and 30 (19%) for familial polyposis. One hundred patients (64%) developed complications which required one or several reoperations (laparotomy and/or perineal operation) in 64 cases (41%). Pouchitis was the most frequent complication (19%). Small bowel obstruction and pelvic abscess secondary to an anastomotic leak were the complications most frequently requiring second laparotomy with an incidence of 13% and 11%, respectively. The mean number of stools per 24 hours was 5.5 (2 to 14). 27% of patients passed one or several nocturnal stools every night, 27% occasionally, and 46% never. Occasional faecal incontinence was reported by 8 patients (6%) and 4 patients (3%) reported uncontrollable urgency. Nine patients retained a permanent ileostomy (failure rate: 6%).