Whats a Continent Ileostomy?
Another operation that gained popularity over an ileostomy avoids the use of a colostomy bag by forming a pouch from the last 15-40 cm of ileum inside the wall of the lower abdomen. A nipple valve in the abdominal wall allows the patient to empty the pouch by inserting a catheter through the ileostomy. Initially, the pouch must be emptied frequently, eight to ten times daily. The pouch stretches and, after several months it will only have to be emptied four to five times a day. This operation used to be performed in two separate steps and the patient would have to wear a colostomy bag for several months before the pouch could be attached. The operation is now generally performed in one step, though it may be performed as two steps if the patient is severely ill at the time of surgery. This procedure is generally not performed because it has many of the possible complications and none of the benefits of the Ileoanal Anastomosis, described below.
