title: Colonic J-pouch rectal reconstruction--is it really a neorectum?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether a colonic J-pouch has similar properties to that of a normal rectum, including recovery of rectoanal coordination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with colonic J-pouch-anal anastomosis (anastomotic distance from anal verge, 3.5 (range, 2.0-4.5) cm for low rectal cancer (7 men; mean age, 64.7 (range, 44-76) years) were studied clinically and in the anorectal physiology laboratory at least one year after operation. Results were compared with a series of ten matched patients who underwent high anterior resection for upper rectal carcinoma (anastomotic height, 12.7 (range, 9.5-16) cm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although results seemed to be slightly better in the group with the rectum preserved, no statistical differences could be found either in functional outcome or anorectal physiology. One-half of the patients with colonic J-pouch (neorectum) had a positive rectoanal inhibitory reflex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of a colon pouch neorectum would appear to improve function to the level of those patients with a high anastomosis and "normal" rectum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Smilgin Humphreys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome