Purpose: Women undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) are frequently within reproductive years and eager to bear children. Management issues have been raised regarding the effects of pregnancy and delivery on the pouch, particularly with respect to obstetric care. Our experience is updated to search for delayed sequelae of pregnancy and delivery and to establish whether other factors have an adverse effect on pouch function. These results are also compared with the outcome of pregnancy and delivery in patients with ileostomy or Kock pouch.
Methods: Records of 43 women who had a successful pregnancy and delivery following IPAA were reviewed, including 8 women who had more than 1 pregnancy.
Results: Pregnancy was generally well tolerated, with complications being managed nonoperatively. Stool frequency (P < 0.01), incontinence (P < 0.01), and pad usage (P < 0.05; sign rank test) were significantly increased during pregnancy, but prepregnancy function was restored following delivery. Vaginal delivery, multiple births, length of labor, and birth weight had no adverse permanent effect on subsequent pouch function. Longer follow-up after vaginal delivery (mean, 2.4 years) demonstrated no compromise of pouch function.
Conclusions: Incidence of pouch-related complications in patients with IPAA compares favorably with incidence in patients with ileostomy or Kock pouch. Operative rate for complications was 0 percent in IPAA patients compared with 9 percent in patients with ileostomy and 19 percent in patients with Kock pouch. The cesarean section rate was higher in patients with IPAA than in those with ileostomy or Kock pouch, and this may be caused by uncertainty about how to manage delivery in patients with IPAA. Pregnancy and childbirth are well tolerated in women with IPAA, with a lower complication rate and a higher cesarean section rate than women with ileostomy or Kock pouch. Type of delivery should be influenced by obstetric considerations, with vaginal delivery avoided in patients with a noncompliant, rigid perineum.