Proctocolectomy and Ileostomy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Skip to the navigationSurgery Overview
In proctocolectomy, the
large intestine and rectum are removed, leaving the lower end of the small
intestine (the ileum). The doctor sews the anus closed and makes a small
opening called a stoma in the skin of the lower abdomen. The surgical procedure
to create the stoma (or any other artificial opening) is called an
ostomy.
The ileum is connected to the stoma, creating an opening
to the outside of the body. The surgery that creates the opening to the
intestine is called an ileostomy.
Stool empties into a small
plastic pouch called an ostomy bag that is applied to the skin around the
stoma.
What To Expect After Surgery
You may stay in the hospital for
several days or as long as 2 weeks after surgery, depending on the severity of
the
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
How Well It Works
This surgery cures ulcerative
colitis. About 7 to 8 out of 10 people have long-term success with this surgery.footnote 1
Surgery will not cure Crohn's disease. But it may give people some time without symptoms. Crohn's disease usually comes back after surgery.
Risks
The main complications of ileostomy involve
infection and problems with the opening to the abdomen (stoma). The following
complications may occur:footnote 2
- Up to 30 out of 100 people develop
infection.
- Small bowel obstruction occurs in 15 out of
100 people.
- A problem with the stoma develops in up to 30 out of
100 people.
- About 20 to 25 out of 100 people need another surgery to
repair the stoma.
References
Citations
- Cohen JL, et al. (2005). Practice parameters for the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 48(11): 1997-2009. Available online: http://www.fascrs.org/physicians/practice_parameters.
- Cima RR, Pemberton JH (2010). Ileostomy, colostomy, and pouches. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2015-2025. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerKenneth Bark, MD - General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Current as ofJune 13, 2017
Current as of:
June 13, 2017
Cohen JL, et al. (2005). Practice parameters for the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 48(11): 1997-2009. Available online: http://www.fascrs.org/physicians/practice_parameters.
Cima RR, Pemberton JH (2010). Ileostomy, colostomy, and pouches. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2015-2025. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.