Rectal J-pouch reservoir to decrease the frequency of tenesmus and defecation in low coloproctostomy

Low anterior resection of the colon with very low coloproctostomy is a procedure occasionally required in the surgical management of the patient with gynecologic malignancy. Very low end-to-end anastomosis of the colon to the rectum has been associated with fecal frequency and tenesmus in up to 70% of cases. The construction of a rectal J-pouch low-pressure reservoir has been reported to have a salutary effect on these symptoms. Between March 1987 and April 1988, a pilot study was carried out in which 11 patients with primary or recurrent gynecologic malignancy who underwent low anterior resection of the colon requiring very low coloproctostomy (below 6 cm) had construction of a rectal J-pouch reservoir with a Strasbourg-Baker end-to-side coloproctostomy. No postoperative complications were noted in this small series of patients. No patient has had more than three stools per day since surgery. Antidiarrheal medication was not required. All patients denied tenesmus. It was concluded that the rectal J-pouch reservoir offered a surgical technique for avoiding tenesmus and fecal frequency in very low end-to-end anastomosis of colon to rectum.