Overview
Ileoanal anastomosis (commonly called J-pouch surgery) is a procedure developed to help people avoid a permanent stoma (abdominal opening for eliminating waste) after removal of the colon and rectum due to ulcerative colitis or another cause. The main advantage of ileoanal anastomosis is that it allows you to eliminate waste normally.
Why choose Mayo Clinic
- Experience. Mayo Clinic surgeons have performed more ileoanal anastomosis procedures than any other medical center — more than 4,000 since 1981.
- Minimally invasive approach. Mayo Clinic uses a minimally invasive approach to this surgery in most cases, with smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional open surgery. Surgeons have performed more than 500 minimally invasive J-pouch procedures.
- Positive results. A Mayo Clinic study showed 92 percent of patients who had an ileoanal anastomosis procedure at Mayo Clinic experienced a successful outcome and positive functional results. The same study monitored the results of more than 400 patients who had their J-pouch in place for greater than 15 years, confirming the procedure's durability.
- Team approach. A team of experts works together to ensure ileoanal anastomosis is the right option for you. Your team can include specialists in digestive diseases (gastroenterology), colon and rectal surgery, general surgery, oncology, radiation oncology and others, as needed.
- Efficient process. Consultations with doctors, testing and treatment can usually be done in a single visit, lasting several days. It is not uncommon to have an evaluation one day and initial surgery scheduled for a day or two later, if you wish to proceed that quickly.
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