Incidence and outcome of complications following restorative proctocolectomy

Background: Complications were analyzed in 296 patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent restorative proctocolectomy. Methods: In 96.3% of patients, the pouch was anastomosed using the double stapling method. A total of 44.6% of patients underwent restorative proctocolectomy in1 stage without ileostomy and 53% in 2 stages. Complications were divided into 2 stages: early (within 1 month) and late (after 1 month); moreover, the annual incidences were calculated, mean onset time, and pouch survival rate. Results: The overall incidence of complications was 52.7%. Early complications (13.2%) occurred significantly less often than late complications (46.3%) (P < .05). Thirty-five (17.7%) of 198 complications required surgery. The cumulative 5- and 10-year pouch survival rate was 99%, respectively. Conclusions: The rate of complications after restorative proctocolectomy was almost equivalent to that in other reports, but the pouch survival rate was very high. (c) 2005 Excerpta Medica Inc. All rights reserved.