Dr. Don Schiller has announced that after 44 years in practice he is retiring. After Palms of Pasadena Hospital in Florida shut down their BCIR program in 2019, Dr. Schiller in California was the only surgeon actively performing BCIR surgery in the US. A number of Dr. Rehnke’s patients turned to Dr. Schiller when complications they were experiencing with their pouches required surgery while others were treated by K pouch surgeons. Dr. P.J. Benyamini, Dr. Schiller’s associate, has decided to pursue interests other than BCIR.
The continent ileostomy still remains a very good option for people with failed J pouches, problematic end ileostomies and others who do not want to have a conventional ileostomy with its associated issues. Although the K pouch is constructed in a slightly different way than a BCIR, it functions exactly the same, has comparable success rates and user satisfaction rates as the BCIR. Those who are considering getting a continent ileostomy should have no reservation about contacting a K pouch surgeon. A list of doctors who are familiar with continent ileostomies is viewable on the Quality Life Association web site (www.qla-ostomy.org) under the Medical Info tab.
