my son jake has had the 1st step of the 3 step j-pouch surgery (jan 2011), the surgeon left about 8cm of his colon attached to his rectum, he explained that he would take that out when he performed the 2nd step, jake has been in the hospital numerous times since the surgery due to inflammation in the colon that was left ... anyone else experience this issue? not sure we want him performing next surgeries, feel that leaving the small amount of colon wasn't necessary and obviously has caused major set backs due to this ...

I had similar problems with my "stump" after the first step. I think it is, unfortunately, necessary to keep the stump so the surgeon has something to staple or sew the pouch to. Others might have a better insight; my surgery was more than a decade ago.

Ray

This is normal and will be resolved at the next surgery.

Sue

This is pretty typical. They normally call this the rectal stump. Mine was left in after step 1 of 3 and also caused numerous issues, most notably being abscesses that made me pretty ill.

This portion was removed during step 2 and my health improved amazingly after that. Other than the battle of the loop ostomy of course.

From what i have heard. most 3 step procedures follow this exact route. My further understanding is this stump was left in and attached just under the end of my incision, near my pelvic area, so that any infections or problems would come to the surface instead of causing internal issues.

I am sure others can give a more definitive reason for the stump being left.

Good luck to your son and your family. Hope all goes well and welcome to the community.

Derek

thank you all for your input .. i had understood the procedure to keep part of the colon and then would be taken out at the 2nd step, knew there are complications during the process, just wanted to know what problems others have experienced, as you know, this disease is so frustrating and just want my son fixed !!!

Yes, I had ongoing problems with my rectal stump in between surgeries. It never went into remission, and the entire time I had it (over 2 years), I continually experienced bleeding, mucous, and other interstitial manifestations of UC, including eye inflammation and mouth ulcerations. I also felt generally drained and fatigued from the constant inflammation. My doctor eventually prescribed cortifoam, which is exactly what it sounds like: it's a cortisone foam enema. That helped with the bleeding but the other manifestations of UC never went away until I had the rectal stump removed. Unfortunately, if you are doing a 3 step surgery, they rectal stump must be left intact. Removing it entirely before creating the j-pouch usually destroys the anal and sphincter muscles which are paramount to the j-pouch functioning properly.

It is a frustrating disease in so many ways!