Background: Restorative proctocolectomy and pelvic pouch surgery (construction of a pelvic pouch from intestine) is standard surgical treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis. It is a surgical approach that has been used for more than 30 years. The goal with this study was to report complications and functional results of restorative proctocolectomy performed by gastric surgeons in a local hospital.
Material and method: All patients who had undergone pelvic pouch surgery at Levanger hospital in the period 1989 - 2006 were evaluated. Data were collected through retrospective assessment of journals, and through questionnaires (that the patients were requested to complete) on functioning of the pelvic pouch.
Results: The material consisted of 43 patients with a median follow-up time of 109 months (range 14 - 216). Four (9 %) patients with a non-functioning pelvic pouch were excluded from the analysis of self-defined function. 31 of 39 patients completed the questionnaire. Pouch-related complications were identified in 21(49 %) patients, and 9 (21 %) developed other complications. The mean number of daily defecation was 6 (range 3 - 11) and the mean number of nightly defection was 1 (range 0 - 4). Six (19 %) patients had some type of incontinence problem related to defecation. 29 (94 %) of the 31 patients who completed the questionnaire were content with functioning of their pouch.
Interpretation: Despite the high frequency of both pouch-related and other complications, most patients were content with having a pelvic pouch.