Contribution of gastrointestinal transit and pouch characteristics in determining pouch function.

Abstract

AIM: To determine the contributions of gastrointestinal transit and pouch characteristics to bowel frequency in patients with an ileoanal reservoir and no pouchitis. METHODS: Twenty one patients who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy, with ileostomy closure at least eight months previously, and who had no history of pouchitis were recruited. They were prospectively classified on the basis of their bowel frequency: 11 patients had good pouch function (bowel frequency less than six per day) and 10 had poor function (bowel frequency more than six per day). Gastrointestinal transit was studied using a dual isotope technique and anal and pouch physiological examination was performed on all..