What can I expect during ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis surgery?
The large intestine (colon) and nearly the entire rectum are removed through an incision in your abdomen. In some cases, the surgeon then strips the inner lining of the remaining rectum. An ileal J-pouch (which looks like the letter “J”) is created. The J-pouch becomes a reservoir for waste and replaces the function of the rectum. The surgeon constructs the pouch from about 10 to 11 inches of ileum (small intestine) and attaches it to the anal muscle so that elimination remains relatively the same. Since the entire small intestine is left intact, digestion remains essentially unchanged. In many cases, a temporary “loop” ileostomy is created. This allows waste to be diverted into an external pouch, while the surgical area heals without the danger of irritation or infection from bacteria in stool. The loop construction of the stoma allows for a simpler reversal of the ostomy with less pain and a shorter recovery time. If there is no tension between the pouch and the anal area, and if you
