This case report was designed to analyze a rare longterm complication of ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis performed in an ulcerative colitis patient. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease of the colorectal mucosa. This disease affects approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 people in the United States [2-5]; 25% - 33% of whom require some form of surgical treatment [6]. Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis is the surgical treatment of a choice in patients with medically refractory disease or evidence of dysplasia. This surgical approach has evolved significantly since it was first reported [7]. The implementation of laparoscopic technique has shown better outcomes [8,9]. It is thought that the laparoscopic approach reduces tissue trauma, thus decreasing adhesions. However, the lack of retroperitoneal pexy increases the possibility of torsion.

A number of significant short and long-term complications have been reported: small bowel obstruction, pouch leakage, anastomotic stricture, fistulas, and pouchitis being the most common. The axial rotation of an ileal Jpouch anal anastomosis could compromise its venous return, causing edema, ischemia, necrosis, perforation and peritonitis.

This life threatening complication requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. When suspected, a simple abdominal X-ray, barium enema, and/or gastrografin enema should be used to make the diagnosis; CT scan and MRI can also be used [10-13]. When present, therapy should be started immediately. Resuscitation, nasogastric tube decompression, and detorsion with proctoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy are the first line of therapy. Temporary rectal tube decompression can be considered. If this approach fails, a combined abdominal salvage surgery should be performed to release the affected bowel, prevent future devastating complications, and improve pouch function in most cases [14,15]. Pouchopexy should be considered in order to prevent future recurrences [16,17].

A 34-year-old female with a history of ulcerative colitis treated three years prior with laparoscopic total proctocolectomy and ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis presented with complaints of a 24 hour loss of appetite, progressive abdominal distention, and obstipation. She reported gray rectal mucus discharge and lower back pain, low grade fever, but denied nausea or vomiting.

On physical examination she looked frail, apyrexic, and in obvious discomfort. Her vital signs were: temperature: 90.8˚F; blood pressure: 110/80 mm Hg; heart rate: 118 beats per minute; respiratory rate: 20 respirations per minute. Her abdomen was distended with diminished bowel sounds, soft but with mild central tenderness. After resuscitation with IV fluids, torsion of the pouch was diagnosed with abdominal XR (Figure 1), CT scan, rigid proctoscopy, and gastrograffin enema (Figure 2). We attempted to decompress the dilated pouch using a finger-guided Medina catheter and sigmoidoscope. This provided some relief with passage of flatus and liquid

stool. Though the pouch demonstrated no injury or perforation, too much edema was present for proper decompression, and the patient was immediately admitted to the colorectal surgery service.

The patient was electively taken to the operative room for abdominal exploration. A massively dilated pouch was discovered without adhesions to the pelvic side wall or the mesenteric surface. The pouch was excised and a new pouch was created using the old ileostomy site as its apex. This procedure could be done without tension and a hand-sewn ileo-anal anastomosis was completed. The new pouch was secured with Alloderm sutured into the presacral space to create a pexy. A temporary loop ileostomy was created in order to protect the new pouch and a presacral drain was placed to prevent formation of collections. The post-operative period was uncomplicated. She was started on a clear liquid diet the day after surgery, which was quickly advanced as tolerated, and the patient was discharged home on post-operative day 5. The presacral drain was removed and she reported 2 to 3 bowel movements despite diversion. A mild anastomotic stricture was easily treated with digital dilation during clinic follow up.

Three months later, the pouch anastomosis appeared normal in postoperative studies. She returned to the OR for a loop ileostomy takedown. During this intervention, no intra-abdominal collections were discovered and few adhesions were found. Her progression was appropriate, though she did complain of colicky abdominal pain. After her intervention, she reported 6 to 8 bowel movements a day without nocturnal leakage, and required the use of Imodium to reduce her frequent stools.

Long-axis rotational volvulus is an uncommon complication of ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis. The characteristic 180˚ rotation of the pouch can compromise its blood supply, jeopardizing its function even if prompt diagnosis and decompression are achieved at presentation.

Loss of appetite, abdominal distention, absence of bowel movements, and the inability to pass flatus should alert the surgeon that an obstruction exists. Abdominal X-ray, contrast enema, and sigmoidoscopy are diagnostic. Guided Medina catheter and rectal tube placement represent important tools for decompression. The utility of flexible sigmoidoscopy in the treatment of sigmoid volvulus is well known [18], but its therapeutic role in ileal J-pouch torsion is unproven.

There is no consensus about risk factors for J-pouch torsion but we believe that lack of adhesions and large pouch size could play an important role in the development of this complication. Other authors sustain that risk factors for pouch torsion are asymmetric orientation and pouch configuration [17]. The implementation of a laparoscopic approach in inflammatory bowel disease patients can decrease adhesion formation, thus increasing the risk of volvulus.

It is known that W-pouches are more prone to torsion than J-pouches, probably because they have all the characteristics described above. This possibility may increase when the pouch is distended. The orientation, symmetry, and shortness of a J-pouch decrease the possibility of torsion and obstruction, and implementation of pouchopexy physically supports the pouch which further reduces the risk. When pouch torsion and obstruction is suspected and a conservative treatment fails to decompress the affected loop and release the obstruction, pouch excision and creation of a new pouch is one of the best surgical approaches [19] and has satisfactory outcomes [15,20].

In our case, surgery was performed and pouch function was assessed using markers such as number of daytime bowel movements, nocturnal leakage, and the need for drugs to control bowel activity, with expected results.

Rotational volvulus is an uncommon complication of ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis. It’s a very rare cause of bowel dysfunction and bowel obstruction. The rotation of the pouch can compromise its blood supply, jeopardizing its function even if prompt diagnosis and decompression are essential.