Complications, surgical revision and quality of life with conventional and continent ileostomy.

Continent ileostomy remains an alternative to restorative proctocolectomy in selected cases. Results with continent ileostomy in 55 patients are reported--in 82% after conversion from conventional ileostomy. Three years postoperatively 93% were continent and 7% partially continent, and after 5 years 95% were continent. Complications requiring laparotomy arose in ten patients (18%) during the immediate postoperative period (30% among the first 27 patients, 7% of the subsequent 28). The incidence of late complications requiring laparotomy was 16% in the first year, 10% in the next 2 years and 5% after the third year. Slipping of the nipple occurred in 9% of the patients in the first postoperative year. No reservoir has been removed. The quality of life improved after colectomy with conventional ileostomy, but most patients experienced a dramatic further improvement after construction of the continent ileostomy. The improvement in ultimate quality of life was not influenced by revision for malfunction of continent ileostomy.