title: Quality of life after proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is performed in many patients with ulcerative colitis, conflicting data exist about its effects on quality of life. We aimed to determine quality of life and to identify risk factors for impaired quality of life in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight of 82 patients (59%; median follow-up 57 months [range 21-93 months]) after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis were compared to 48 matched healthy controls. Generic, health-, and disease-related, as well as symptom-specific quality of life was analyzed using five well-established quality of life instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although generic quality of life was comparable between groups, health-related quality of life was impaired after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. While high stool frequency was associated with impaired health-related and disease-specific quality of life, fecal incontinence and history of pouchitis also caused a deterioration of generic and symptom-related quality of life. Seventy-seven percent of patients reported their quality of life to be better compared to the situation before surgery and 88% would undergo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis again.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall quality of life after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is good. However, high stool frequency, fecal incontinence, and pouchitis are associated with impaired quality of life and should be prevented or treated to the best possible extent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Campus Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koerdt
authors.forename: Ekkehard C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Jehle
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kreis
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kasparek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D039021:Colonic Pouches / Q000009:adverse effects; D003672:Defecation; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019449:Pouchitis / Q000209:etiology; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult