RADIOLOGY OF THE CONTINENT ILEOSTOMY

Construction of a continent ileostomy for selected patients who require total proctocolectomy is gaining wider use. The operation, introduced a decade ago, creates an internal ileal reservoir and, when successful, provides the patient with an ileostomy that remains completely continent between voluntary evacuations. Malfunction of the continent ileostomy usually results from a radiologically demonstrable architectural derangement of the ileal reservoir. This report, based on the findings of contrast examinations of ileal reservoirs in 86 patients, describes the method of examination and the radiologic anatomy of the continent ileostomy and its common late complications.