In some cases, patients suffering from chronic ulcerative colitis or other types of colon conditions need to have their large intestine removed. The surgeon then connects the lowest part of the small intestine (the ileum) to an opening created in the abdomen through which the body's waste is removed, called an ileostomy.
Rather than creating a permanent ostomy, UMass Memorial Medical Center colon and rectal surgeons may perform a more advanced type of surgery for certain patients. During this J pouch procedure, our surgeons create a pouch using the small intestine and connect it to the anal sphincter - the circular muscle that controls the opening of the anus. So, after the J pouch heals, you can continue passing stools through the anus.
Key advantages of J pouch surgery
This type of surgery can help restore health as well as quality of life, since it is designed to:
- Eliminate the disease
- Lets you pass stools through the anus, rather than through a surgical opening (ileostomy)
- Reduce the need for a permanent ileostomy
How this type of surgery works
Typically, this type of surgery is done in two steps:
- The surgeon removes the colon and rectum, creates the J pouch and connects it to the anus. To allow the J pouch time to heal, the surgeon also creates a temporary ileostomy through which your stools will pass.
- After you have had time to heal (usually two or three months after the initial surgery), the ileostomy is closed and stools are now rerouted through the J pouch and out through the anus.
This is just one of the many medical advances that you can conveniently access at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA.
Other medical advances: