Long-term functional results of colonic J pouch versus straight coloanal anastomosis.
BACKGROUND
There are very few studies evaluating the long-term functional outcome of coloanal anastomoses. This retrospective study aimed to compare long-term functional results of straight and colonic J pouch anastomoses.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients, 25 with a straight anastomosis and 12 with a J pouch anastomosis, responded to a standardized telephone questionnaire. The mean time since surgery was 10 (range 4-18) years.


RESULTS
The mean daily stool frequency was similar in both groups of patients (1.1 in patients with a reservoir, 1.5 in patients with a straight anastomosis). In both groups, two-thirds of patients had perfect continence or limited gas incontinence. Faecal incontinence was reported by two patients with a straight anastomosis and one patient with a pouch. Nocturnal stools and fragmentation were slightly more frequent in patients with a straight anastomosis. Half of the patients regularly used medication. Thirty-five of the 37 patients reported satisfaction with functional results.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term functional results of coloanal anastomoses are satisfactory and, unlike early results, similar for both types of anastomosis. The functional benefit of a reservoir, seen in the first year after operation, is less evident with increasing time.
Barrier
A
A
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Rothschild Hospital, Paris, France.
Martel
P
P
Gallot
D
D
Dugue
L
L
Sezeur
A
A
Malafosse
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000930:Antidiarrheals; D002400:Cathartics