Nephrolithiasis occurs in 5 to 13% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who undergo colectomy and abdominal ileostomy, presumably from chronic dehydration and urinary concentration. Whether endorectal ileal pullthrough with ileal reservoir (PTR) changes the incidence of stones (primarily calcium oxalate) after colectomy is not known. Urinary excretion of Na2+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, phosphate, urate, oxalate, and citrate was measured in a prospective study of 12 UC patients undergoing PTR with temporary end ileostomy. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were obtained before colectomy (t1), after colectomy but before ileostomy closure (t2), and 5 months after ileostomy closure (t3). Urine volumes decreased from 831 +/- 101 cc (mean +/- SE) at t1 to 715 +/- 101 cc at t2 and then increased to 1278 +/- 421 cc at t3 (significant, with P less than 0.01 by t test). Urinary excretions of Mg2+, oxalate, and citrate were low in UC patients compared to those in controls (15 healthy adult volunteers). Excretion of Ca2+ increased significantly following temporary ileostomy while excretion of Mg2+ fell. Excretion of Ca2+ fell and excretion of Mg2+ and citrate increased following PTR. We conclude that PTR patients have increased urine volumes and urinary ion changes known to decrease the risk of developing renal stones.