ABSTRACT
The continent ileostomy was developed by Nils G Kock, professor of surgery at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. Proctocolectomy with an ileostomy was the gold standard operation for colitis. The indications for a continent ileostomy today are rather limited, with the ileal pouch-anal anastomosis becoming the gold standard for most patients with ulcerative colitis requiring surgery. In the early days of the continent ileostomy, surgeons did not always take into account the differential diagnosis between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis. In principal, all patients having had their rectum and colon resected are potential candidates for a continent ileostomy. Pouchitis can affect the continent ileostomy to the same extent as the ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Re-siting of the continent ileostomy is recommended as a preferred procedure for nipple valve prolapse. Many patients have had a conventional ileostomy, which was converted to a continent ileostomy, and were, therefore, capable of making a valid comparison.
