I just registered but have been lurking here awhile. I heard about the K-pouch awhile ago and have finally started researching it. I have Spina bifida which has caused bowel incontinence. I have other "complications" but the incontinence is the one that bothers me the most and is the only thing currently preventing me from being totally independent. From what I've found the K-pouch sounds like it could be a good option for me. Now I'm just trying to figure out who to talk to to see if I'm a candidate for it or not. I live in Oklahoma. It would be great to find someone close to here, but mainly I want to find someone who is experienced with it and knows what they're talking about/doing. If anyone has any recommendations I'd really appreciate it - thanks!

Sounds like you might be well-suited for a Kock pouch. But make sure you see Dr. Victor Fazio at the Cleveland Clinic. Not just anyone can make one of these. Don't believe them if they say they can. I have had a K-pouch for 30 years.

Dr. Fazio at the Cleveland Clinic is probably the closest to you. There are other doctors who do the Kock though in New York,California and St. Louis.

The most important requirement is that the surgeon you choose should have done many many of them ..and successfully.

Cross the St. Louis doctor off the list. Dr. Dana Launer of San Diego. Dr. Don Schiller of L.A. and Dr. Joel Bauer of NYC are the only ones worth a hoot. Still, Fazio is probably the best of the lot for a continent pouch.

Dr. Launer was and is my surgeon of choice. He fixed me up and saved my life. I actually am going in for my two/or three year checkup. they last all of about 1/2 of a minute. That's fine by me. It means I'm still doing great. as for the k-pouch, It is so worth it to have a normal life after living with crohns for several years. You know the feeling. "Ok wheres the nearest bathroom" I don't want to go anywhere, I might have to go #3. My butt hurts. Wheres my donut. (that really worked too. I thought those were just for old people with hemoroids)

Please heed the advice above. This is a very complex operation. It is very very important to go to a surgeon with "tons" of experience in creating the Kock Pouch and valve.

When you go to an experienced Kock Pouch surgeon you find that the "support staff" - the E.T. Nurses, the R.N's the L.P.Ns (everybody) knows what a Kock Pouch is and how it works. You find yourself NOT having to tell everyone at the hospital that it's not a Brooke ileostomy, etc...

I almost decided NOT to have a second attempt at the Kock Pouch surgery but so far so good

Alex

Thanks for the replies! I've seen Dr. Fazio mentioned here a lot and people seem to like him. He'll probably be the one I'll try to see about this first.