Pouchitis

Treatment

In most cases, a short (one to two weeks) course of antibiotics such as metronidazole or ciprofloxacin will decrease or eliminate the symptoms (remission).

J-pouch surgery creates a pouch in patients who have their colon removed.

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About 10 to 20 percent of people develop chronic pouchitis. Many of these people require long-term continuous antibiotic therapy to maintain remission. Some people develop refractory pouchitis which does not respond to antibiotics. Mayo Clinic 's expertise is often helpful in finding solutions for these difficult problems. Treatment options include:

• Topical mesalamine (suppository or enema)
• Oral and topical corticosteroids, such as budesonide
• Immunosuppressive medications, such as infliximab

In rare cases when pouchitis does not respond to any medications it may be necessary to remove the pouch.

Cuffitis is treated with the same medications used to treat ulcerative colitis, most commonly in the form of a mesalamine suppository (Canasa).

Mayo maintains a database of treatment information about patients, which helps doctors study disease trends and tailor individual treatment plans.