Continent Ileostomy: Current Experience

This study was designed to review our recent experience with continent ileostomies and evaluate patient outcomes.

Retrospective chart reviews and phone interviews of patients who underwent a continent ileostomy operation from 1993 to 2003 at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation were performed.

Twenty-four patients (19 females; age range, 22–73 years) had construction of continent ileostomies (modified Kock pouch). There were no intraoperative mortalities or stoma-related deaths. The mean operating room time for primary construction was 3.9 ± 0.57 hours with a mean length of stay of 7 ± 2 days. The average follow-up period was 66 (range, 6–134) months. The most common underlying indication for the construction of a continent ileostomy was ulcerative colitis (71 percent). Thirteen patients had a continent ileostomy created for conversion of a Brooke ileostomy and seven for a failed ileoanal pouch. Other indications included colonic inertia and incontinence in three patients and one patient who had failed multiple operations for Hirschsprung’s disease. A total of 28 revisions were performed in 14 patients (58 percent). Six patients required multiple procedures. Operative revisions included 12 skin level revision for stenosis, 11 operations for valve repairs, and 1 each for peristomal hernia repair, stomal relocation, and pouch repair for fistulas. Two patients had their pouches removed (Crohn’s disease and inability to manage pouch). The need for revision by 12 months was 29 percent, and the average time period before the first revision was 24 months (range, 4 days to 109 months). The overall failure rate (converted to conventional ileostomy) was only 8.3 percent. Ninety percent of the patients have continent pouches and are satisfied with their pouch function.

Continent ileostomies continue to have a high rate of reoperations, reasonable functional results, and are a viable option for failed ileal pouch-anal pouch patients. Surgeons electing to perform continent ileostomies must carefully select their patients and advise them of the high potential for reoperations. Despite a high reoperation rate, patients are pleased with their continent ileostomies.