Objective: To determine the incidence timing and effectiveness of treatment of symptomatic pouchitis following restorative proctocolectomy with ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis.
Design: A cohort analytical study.
Setting: University hospitals, a tertiary referral center; all subjects entered into the study followed up for a minimum of 12 months (mean follow-up, 40 months).
Patients: One hundred four consecutive patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy with ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis for either ulcerative colitis (n = 97) or familial adenomatous polyposis (n = 7) between June 1986 and December 1994.
Interventions: Patients with symptomatic pouchitis were treated with either oral metronidazole or ciprofloxacin.
Outcomes: Diagnosis of pouchitis was determined by clinical symptoms and confirmed with endoscopy. Response to oral antibodies was determined by resolution of symptoms.
Results: Fifty-two patients (50%) experience at lest 1 episode of pouchitis. The first episode of pouchitis occurred within the first 12 months after restoration of intestinal continuity in 56% of the cases. In 2 patients it occurred after 30 months. Response to antibiotic treatment was 96%. Two thirds of patients had multiple episodes. Chronic pouchitis occurred in 6 patients, necessitating pouch removal in 2.
Conclusions: The incidence of pouchitis after ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis is approximately 50% with two thirds of these patients having multiple episodes. Chronic pouchitis occurs in a minority of patients. In chronic pouchitis, the risk of pouch loss is substantial.