title: A comparison of the quality of life of ulcerative colitis patients after IPAA vs ileostomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Total proctocolectomy with IPAA is frequently considered the procedure of choice for surgical patients with ulcerative colitis, presumably owing to an expectation of improved quality of life in comparison with an ileostomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of our study was to determine whether long-term quality of life among patients with a pelvic pouch is better than those who chose a permanent stoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This investigation is a cross-sectional observational study using a prospective database.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients who had undergone IPAA or a permanent ileostomy for ulcerative colitis by a single surgeon, presenting for their annual follow-up visit from July through September 2011, were offered participation in the study. A randomly chosen group of subjects who did not have scheduled appointments during the study period were sent a letter inviting them to participate in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measures used were EQ-5D-3L, the Short Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease questionnaire, the Cleveland Global Quality of Life instrument, the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale, and the Stoma Quality of Life scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients with a pelvic pouch and 24 ostomates were accrued and comprehensively studied. Global quality-of-life scores were virtually identical for the 2 groups. Patients with a pelvic pouch had better subscores in current quality of health and energy level, Fazio score, sexuality/body image, and work/social function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was limited by its small sample size, and some of our patients were enrolled through mailed surveys and, hence, nonresponse bias may be present. The follow-up time since surgery was longer in the pelvic pouch group than in the ileostomy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Informed patients with ulcerative colitis choosing an ileostomy have a health-related global quality of life very similar to patients with a pelvic pouch. Better outcomes in patients with an ileal pouch were most evident in the areas of sexuality/body image and work/social function.
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuruvilla
authors.forename: Turner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osler
authors.forename: Neil H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Hyman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality; D058992:Social Participation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work