This month begins my series on J-Pouches. I have spent many months researching and many hours putting all these posts together to get a better understanding of J-Pouches so that I might share the information with you. I hope that you enjoy my five-part series on the J-Pouch. This week I share J-Pouch History.

J-Pouch History

1933

The first attempted ileoanal anastomosis was performed by Dr. Rudolph Nissen (also spelled Rudolf Nissen) of Berlin in 1933. Nissen performed the procedure on a 10-year-old with polyposis with reportedly great results. In 1948, doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mark Ravitch and David Sabiston, experimented with ileoanal anastomosis and anorectal mucosectomy on 28 dogs. Through their trial and error, they found that this technique was implemented with great results. Ravitch then used this technique on two ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who had very successful results.

1948-1955

Between 1948 and 1955, various doctors continued to experiment with this technique. They found that the biggest problem was frequent bowel movements, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, fistulas and abscesses. M. A. Valiente and H. E. Bacon believed these complications could be remedied by creating a reservoir, stating, “It is our belief that if an adequate pouch can be obtained and the sphincter mechanism can be preserved intact, it would be possible for these patients to retain the ideal contents enough so that only three to four bowel movements take place every day.”

Through their experiments with seven dogs, two of them were successful. However, five other dogs died making these results somewhat disappointing.

1969

In 1969, a Swedish surgeon by the name of Dr. Nils Kock made the first continent intestinal reservoir. This pouch was called the Kock Pouch and by the early 1970’s, this technique was widely used in the United States with UC and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). There were complications that came along with the Kock Pouch, however. Those included valve slippage and leaks.

1970s & 1980s

In the 1970s and 1980s, two groups that were working independently produced great results in ileal-pouch anal anastomosis technique. The first was a group supervised by Dr. A. G. Parks who was the chief surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital and the London Hospital. He recorded 21 patients in 1980 who were treated with the ileal-reservoir anal anastomosis for both UC and FAP.

Dr. Parks’ version of the ileal-reservoir consisted of the S-Pouch with a temporary loop ileostomy. As with many procedures, greater experience yields greater results. His first patients had a 70% complication rate that soon decreased to about 20%. Eighteen out of 20 patients had no trouble with mucus leakage and all of the patients were continent.

Around the same time, a Japanese doctor at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University named J. Utsunomiya was experimenting with the J-Pouch. His team described 3 different types of anastomosis with each of the three having a temporary loop ileostomy. Of the three different types, the most successful was the antiperistalic J-Pouch patients. However, all of his patients showed great progress and complete stool continence.

The 1980s showed great promise for the ileal-pouch anal anastomosis. With a better understanding of the rectal anatomy and improvement in surgical staplers, great progress was made for the treatment of UC.

1995

Dr. Victor Fazio at Cleveland Clinic Foundation and his team have played some very key roles in the 1995 detailed study of patient outcomes in double-stapled J-Pouch surgery. In the study, Fazio and his team found that early complications were commonly small bowel obstructions, wound infections, pouch abscesses, and pouch bleeding. Late complications such as pouchitis, small bowel obstruction and anal stricture occurred most commonly. This study, which involved 1,005 patients, showed that 93% reported a better quality of life. Therefore, the operation was considered successful and safe for most patients.

Today, the success rates are higher than ever and J-Pouch failure continues to drop. As with anything, the more experience the greater the results. While surgery is far from being the most ideal treatment for ulcerative colitis, I feel like the future is very bright in the treatment for UC.

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SOURCES:

Parks, A. G., and R. J. Nicholls. “Proctocolectomy without Ileostomy for Ulcerative Colitis.” Bmj 2.6130 (1978): 85-88. Web.

Dozois, R.r. “Ileal ‘J’ Pouch–anal Anastomosis.” Frontiers in Colorectal Disease (1986): n. pag. Web.

Melville, D. M., J. K. Ritchie, R. J. Nicholls, and P. R. Hawley. “Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis in the Era of the Pouch: The St Mark’s Hospital Experience.” Gut 35.8 (1994): 1076-080. Web.

Onaitis, Mark W., and Christopher Mantyh. “Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis for Ulcerative Colitis and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.” Annals of Surgery 238.Supplement (2003): n. pag. Web.

Mcguire, B. B., A. E. Brannigan, and P. R. O’connell. “Ileal Pouch–anal Anastomosis.” British Journal of Surgery Br J Surg 94.7 (2007): 812-23. Web.

Scoglio, Daniele. “Surgical Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: Ileorectal vs Ileal Pouch-anal Anastomosis.” World Journal of Gastroenterology WJG 20.37 (2014): 13211. Web.