Background Continent ileostomy (CI) aims to provide control of gas and faecal evacuation; however, it is rarely performed. This paper reports on outcomes of CI in a large single-surgeon series. Methods All consecutive patients who underwent CI between 1986 and 2015 were reviewed. Patients were classified according to the CI procedure (single stage versus two stage) and according to the underlying disease conditions (inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) versus no IBD). Primary outcome measures were early mortality and complications requiring surgical revision within 30 days (group Ia), those requiring surgical revision within 1–12 months (group Ib), and long-term complications after more than 12 months (group II). Secondary outcome measures were pouch survival and quality of life (QoL) assessed using questionnaires for occupational, sports, sexual, and travel activities; patients undergoing CI after conversion from ileostomy. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and Kaplan–Meier curves for the long-term outcomes. Results Sixty-two consecutive patients (28 men, 34 women) who underwent CI were reviewed, including 48 with IBD, and 14 without inflammatory conditions. Mean(s.d.) follow-up was 14.4 (9.5) (range 1–30) years. Twenty-seven patients (44 per cent) developed group I complications, of which 25 were corrected successfully. Two patients dropped out of the analysis: one who died from sepsis and the other owing to pouch loss attributed to unsolvable nipple complications. Of the remaining 60 patients, 23 (38 per cent) developed between one and five group II complications. The cumulative probability of reoperation was 54. per cent at 25 years. Overall, pouch survival was achieved in 90 per cent. The two-stage approach led to significantly fewer complications in group Ia (single stage versus two stage: 8 of 25 versus 2 of 37; P = 0.005), whereas complication rates in group Ib (5 of 23 versus 14 of 37) and group II (9 of 23 versus 14 of 37) were similar. Four CIs failed because of IBD complications. CI pouch and function were preserved in all patients without IBD, whereas in the group with IBD 2 of 31 with ulcerative colitis and 2 of 17 with Crohn’s colitis lost the CI owing to severe intractable inflammatory complications. In 16 patients who had conversion from ileostomy to CI, QoL improved significantly above precolectomy levels in all domains Conclusions CI remains an alternative to conventional ileostomy. Although affected by high reoperation rates, it has the benefit of a high rate of pouch survival.

Aim The aim was to evaluate surgical strategies for conversion of failed ileo‐pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) to continent ileostomy (CI), taking morbidity and overall outcome into account. The hypothesis was that complex conversions are equivalent to the primary construction of a CI at the time of proctocolectomy. Method This was a retrospective analysis of IPAA conversions acknowledging the underlying disease (inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and non‐IBD) and extent of pouch reconstruction (PR): type 1 (without PR), type 2 (partial PR), and type 3 (complete PR). Results Twenty‐six patients (IBD, n = 16; non‐IBD, n = 10) were converted (type 1, n = 13; type 2, n = 7; and type 3, n = 6).12/26 patients (46.2%) presented postoperative complications directly related to the conversion with scarification of two pouches. In a mean follow‐up time of 7.5 ± 6.6 years, 5/24 patients required revisional surgery. Of these, three required pouch excision. The cumulative probability of reoperation at the end of the second year increased to 21.7% and remained constant thereafter until the maximum follow‐up time of 26 years. The total pouch loss rate was 19.2% (5/26), of which all occurred in the first 3 years. No statistically significant differences were found between the conversion types, complications or pouch survival. For all parameters, IBD patients performed slightly unfavourably. Due to the overall small number of respective patients, a differentiated investigation of IBD was not performed. Conclusion Complex conversion procedures (types 1 and 2) deliver comparable long‐term results to new constructions (type 3), thereby limiting the loss of small bowel. IBD compromises outcome versus non‐IBD.

Based on practical experience, a systematic approach to conversion of ileal J-pouches into continent ileostomies is developed by defining three types of conversion surgery, each with two subtypes. Type 1 refers to conversion without pouch reconstruction, type 2 to partial pouch reconstruction, and type 3 to complete pouch reconstruction. The subdivisions (a and b) take into account whether the afferent loop of the former pelvic pouch (a) or a higher ileal/jejunal segment of the small intestine (b) is used in conversion and/or reconstruction. The six resulting surgical variants are shown in schematic illustrations with accompanying descriptions of technical details to provide the specialized surgeon with comprehensive technical guidance.

Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying cause of long-term complications in patients requiring at least one revision surgery of a continent ileostomy (CI) and to analyze functional outcome. Methods Only patients with CI at least one revision were included in the retrospective data analysis. Four different classes of complications (Cl A–D) were defined: Cl A = Nipple valve (NV), Cl B = pouch, Cl C = outlet (stoma), and Cl D = afferent loop (AL). Associations between underlying disease and origin of complications were analyzed. Cumulative probabilities were calculated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results A total of 77 patients were identified with a follow-up of 30 years, requiring 133 surgeries for 148 complications (c.). Cl A 49 c. (33.1%), Cl B 50 c. (33.8%), Cl C 39 c. (26.4%), and Cl D 10 c. (6.8%). Cl A and C complications were not correlated to underlying disease, whereas Cl B and D complications were only found in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). The cumulative probability of a second revision showed a linear rise, reaching 62.5% after 20 years. Cl A and B complications both reached 42.1%. Eleven (14.3%) patients (10 Cl B) had pouch failure in a follow-up period of 11.5 ± 8.7 years (1–31 years), whereas 66 (85.7%) had successful revisional surgery. Overall CI survival was 78.8% at 44 years. Conclusion CI survival is limited by inflammatory complications of the pouch based on the underlying disease and not by mechanical limitations of the NV. Trial registration numbers None.

Background Ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the gold standard for proctocolectomy. The present study evaluates surgical outcomes of the authors’ operations over a 30-year period, including pouch survival and quality of life (QOL). Methods Records of patients undergoing IPAA between 1986 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed regarding early and late complications and pouch survival. An online survey assessed QOL. Results Of 119 patients, 84 had chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 35 non-inflammatory bowel disease (non-IBD). Pouch construction was simultaneous with proctocolectomy in 69% and metachronous in 31%. Double-stapler anastomosis with purse string suture was performed in 100 patients. With temporary transanal decompression by catheter insertion in all patients, loop ileostomy (LIS) was selectively omitted in 68%. Three anastomotic insufficiencies occurred both without (4.4%) and with LIS (9.4%). Perioperative morbidity for LIS closure was substantial (33.3%). In the long-term course, 36 patients (30.5%) required revision (cumulative probability after 15 years: 59.1%). IPAA was discontinued in 16 patients (13.6%), reducing cumulative continence preservation to 72.9% after 15 years. By converting the pouch to a continent ileostomy (CI) in 6 patients with uncorrectable functional complications, cumulative pouch survival reached 81.8% after 27 years. The online survey revealed significant improvements in occupation, sports, and travel vs. before proctocolectomy, but no change in sexual life. Physical, psychological, and social scores were still below the age-matched norm values. Whereas >90% were satisfied with the surgical outcome, only 3/25 had no functional improvement requests. Conclusion IPAA in double-stapler technique is safe, even without protective LIS. However, short- and long-term morbidity is considerable, with a non-negligible risk of continence loss. Conversion to CI for purely functional complications can significantly reduce definite pouch failure. Despite patients’ high subjective satisfaction, QOL remains objectively compromised.