Surgeries to remove the colon and cure
ulcerative colitis have potential complications.
Complications after ileoanal anastomosis are more common than complications
after proctocolectomy and ileostomy.
Ileoanal anastomosis
About one third of people who
have this surgery eventually have one or more of the following:1
- Blockage of the small intestine (small bowel
obstruction)
- Leakage of stool from the anus
(incontinence)
- Inflammation of the ileal pouch
(pouchitis)
- Pelvic or abdominal infection (sepsis)
- Sexual difficulties
Women may have a harder time getting pregnant (infertility)
after ileoanal anastomosis.2
Proctocolectomy and ileostomy
The main complications
after proctocolectomy and ileostomy include:1
- Infection (also called
sepsis).
- Blockage of the small intestine (small bowel
obstruction).
- A problem with the opening in the stomach wall (the
stoma). Some people need another surgery to repair the stoma.
Citations
Cima RR, Pemberton JH (2006). Ileostomy, colostomy, and pouches. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp.
2549-2561. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Waljee A, et al. (2006). Threefold increased risk of
infertility: A meta-analysis of infertility after ileal pouch anal anastomosis
in ulcerative colitis. Gut, 55(11):
1575-1580.
Cima RR, Pemberton JH (2006). Ileostomy, colostomy, and pouches. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp.
2549-2561. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Waljee A, et al. (2006). Threefold increased risk of
infertility: A meta-analysis of infertility after ileal pouch anal anastomosis
in ulcerative colitis. Gut, 55(11):
1575-1580.
