J-pouch surgery (often, a series of surgeries) is designed to remove the damaged tissue of the colon and allows the patient to continue to have “normal” bowel movements, meaning stool leaves the body through the anus.

This article explains why J-pouch surgery is used as an alternative to ileostomy, which creates an artificial pathway for passing stool. It will help you to better understand the J-pouch procedure and what to expect.

What Is J-Pouch Surgery?

In cases where the colon is extensively diseased and/or damaged, its removal may be necessary.

For instance, it’s not uncommon to hear of people with severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) having 25 or more bowel movements a day. These can leave you unable to leave the house for fear of having an accident. This uncontrolled diarrhea is often accompanied by pain and sometimes blood in the stool.

When removal of the colon is necessary, you have two options for treatment: J-pouch surgery or an ileostomy. The J-pouch is a small pouch formed from the end of the small intestine into a J shape where stool can wait until it is time for a bowel movement. 

The muscular J-pouch can not only store stool until it is time for a bowel movement, but you will have some or total control over the timing of the bowel movement.

J-Pouch vs. Ileostomy

An ileostomy is a surgical bypass of the large intestine. During this procedure, the end of the small intestine is separated from the beginning of the large intestine. This creates a new path for stool.

With an ileostomy, stool travels from the small intestine through an incision in the body and into an appliance that is outside of the body. This appliance adheres to the skin and has a removable bag where stool can collect and then be discarded.

Many people choose J-pouch surgery because they do not want to have an ileostomy long-term, saying that the device is uncomfortable or unsightly. Some complain that there is an odor or that the ileostomy interferes with sexual intimacy, irritates the skin, or is generally annoying.

Purpose of J-Pouch Surgery

A colon-rectal surgeon will be the final decision-maker on whether or not a patient is a candidate for the J-pouch procedure. That decision will be based on many factors, including:

Ileo-anal pouchIleo-anal reservoir (IAR)Internal pouchRestorative proctocolectomyIleal-anal pull-throughKock pouchIleostomy takedown

Overall health of the patientType of problem in the large intestineThe severity of the problemWhether or not the problem can be fixed by removal of the colonWhether or not the risks of the procedure outweigh the potential benefits

In general, to be a candidate for the J-pouch procedure, the patient must have severe colon disease or damage. Trauma would be a reason for damage that is treated surgically, such as a gunshot wound to the abdomen that causes significant injury to the large intestine.

Colon cancer is a common reason for the colon to be removed. Familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP, almost always leads to colon cancer and is a common reason for J-pouch surgery. 

This condition typically results in patients having colon polyps by the time they reach their mid-thirties and developing colon cancer in the decade or two that follow. The J-pouch procedure is ideally performed prior to the diagnosis of cancer, rather than as a treatment for cancer.

Contraindications

Whether J-pouch surgery is the right choice will depend on more than the condition of the colon alone. For example, a patient who has severe ulcerative colitis that does not respond to medication, which is the most common reason for the procedure, may not be a candidate for surgery.

Treating known Crohn’s disease — which differs from colitis in that the ulcerative lesions can appear in areas other than the colon — with J-pouch surgery is controversial.

This is because it is possible to remove the colon and create the J-pouch only to find that the J-pouch develops new ulcerative lesions, potentially leaving the patient worse off than when they started treatment.

Complications

In addition to the standard risks of surgery, including a reaction to anesthesia and well-known complications such as pneumonia or blood clots, there are additional risks that are specific to the ileostomy and J-pouch procedures. These risks include:

Bleeding or leaking: Both internal and external incision lines have the potential to leak or bleed after surgery. Ileus: This is a complication where the muscular movements of the intestine (peristalsis) stop after anesthesia.  In most cases, this resolves in the days following surgery. Obstruction: This is where narrowing caused by surgery or another problem prevents the movement of food and stool through the digestive tract.

Keep in mind that these issues typically improve after surgery, as the patient learns the way their body functions after surgery and recovers fully:

Decreased nutrition: Frequent diarrhea can lead to fewer vitamins, minerals, and calories being absorbed by the body. Over time, patients who were malnourished before surgery often become better nourished once diarrhea subsides. Stricture: Areas of surgical incisions, including the small intestine, J-pouch, and anus can experience a narrowing due to scarring. This narrowing can result in small bowel obstruction, difficulty with food or stool moving through the digestive tract and difficulty with bowel movements. Skin erosion: One function of the colon is to absorb excess acid from the intestinal tract. Without the colon to perform this function, some patients experience burning at the site of their stoma or around the anus that is commonly referred to as “butt burn”. This can be prevented with a barrier ointment on the skin. Pouchitis: An inflammation of the pouch, this condition can be painful and is typically treated with two medications: Flagyl and Cipro. Incontinence: While the purpose of the J-pouch is to help the patient be in control of when they move their bowels, some patients experience incontinence during their recovery.  Few experience incontinence that lingers past the recovery phase. Diarrhea: Technically speaking, diarrhea is six or more loose stools per day, and for some, that level of loose stools is better than their previous level of control.  For others, this is worse than previous, but during the initial few weeks of recovery, diarrhea is common and expected. Pelvic abscess: This is a pocket of infection that develops in or near the J-pouch site and requires medical and potentially surgical treatment. Sexual dysfunction: Erectile dysfunction is a known risk of the procedure for men.  For women, infertility due to scarring around the ovaries is a known potential complication, as is painful intercourse. Crohn’s after J-pouch: Crohn’s disease can happen anywhere in the digestive tract while colitis is limited to the large intestine.  If Crohn’s lesions only appear in the colon prior to surgery, it could logically be diagnosed as colitis, only to find that the lesions are later found in other locations. This could lead to a J-pouch that has ulcerative lesions. Need for ostomy: In serious cases where incontinence becomes an ongoing issue, the J-pouch isn’t healthy or non-functioning, or the patient is unsatisfied, an ileostomy is the treatment of choice. Pregnancy: The pressure of the fetus in the pelvis, where the J-pouch rests, can cause difficulty with bowel movements and continence.  Both the colon-rectal surgeon and the obstetrician will play a role in helping the pregnant mother to have the best possible control during the first trimester when this problem is the most significant, and determining the best type of delivery.

How to Prepare for J-Pouch Surgery

First, be sure that your healthcare provider has made the J-pouch procedure clear to you. That’s because it can be completed all in one procedure, or in as many as three separate surgeries. The typical wait between each of these surgeries is two to three months, depending on the health of the patient.

Your surgical team will provide you with detailed instructions about the procedure, including:

Directions to the facility for your procedureThe identification and insurance documents you need to bring with youWhat to wear and pack for a hospital visit of several daysWhether and when to eat or drink before your surgeryWhat tests may be performed ahead of the procedureWhat medications you may be given

What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

The J-pouch procedure is typically planned to be performed in two steps, meaning two separate surgeries will be performed often two to three months apart. 

A temporary ileostomy is created between the two stages. It allows waste to pass through a stoma (opening). It is collected in an external pouch worn on the abdomen. The ileostomy diverts stool from passing through the j-pouch so that the pouch is given time to heal.​

During the Surgery

In the first procedure, the colon is removed. The small intestine is separated from the large intestine, and an ileostomy is formed so stool can exit the body. The J-pouch is created at this point, but it will not receive any stool initially.

For several months after the first surgery, the newly formed J-pouch is allowed to heal and strengthen. Once the J-pouch is healed, an additional procedure is performed to allow stool to travel through the small intestine.

It passes into the J-pouch where it’s temporarily stored. Stool then exits the body through the rectum as it did prior to the initial surgery.

This two-surgery process is the most common method for a J-pouch procedure, but it can also be completed in one surgery. In those instances, an ileostomy is not performed. The colon and rectum are removed; the J-pouch is formed and connected to the rectal stump (the small remaining portion of the rectum just inside the anus) in the same procedure.

In some cases, surgeons perform surgery in three phases, but this is less common. 

These procedures are complex and difficult to truly understand without visual aids. For that reason, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation has created a video to clearly explain the J-pouch procedure.

After Surgery

After J-pouch surgery has been completed, it can be many months before you reach your “new normal” for bowel movements. This may seem very different from what’s considered normal for people without a J-pouch.

Things to expect:

Bowel movements should be controlled (you should not have accidents). Bowel movements should occur at least once every three days. Stool should be formed but not hard and not painful. Stool is typically the consistency of porridge or mashed potatoes.

After the recovery is complete, the average patient experiences five or six controlled bowel movements per day.

J-Pouch Surgery Recovery

Part of the recovery process will involve learning which foods and fluids can potentially aggravate your J-pouch and cause poorly controlled bowel movements. You may also need to continue using some medications to decrease diarrhea and increase bowel movement control. 

Once post-J-pouch surgery dietary and medication needs are understood and the site is healed, people are usually satisfied with the results. 

J-Pouch Surgery Diet

You may be able to improve your recovery by making specific food and diet changes. You may want to avoid spicy and hot foods, as well as seeds and nuts. You also may want to consider:

Small meals: Some people with J-pouches find they can only tolerate multiple small meals rather than three large meals per day. But don’t skip meals, which can lead to loose and irritating stools. Foods that normally cause gas may cause worse flatulence after J-pouch surgery. This is a typical outcome of the procedure and may not resolve after the recovery is complete, but you can try to avoid foods known to cause gas. Diarrhea is typically improved with medication such as Lomotil or Imodium along with dietary changes. Fiber is important. Dense and starchy foods, such as potatoes and pasta, can help firm the stool. Dehydration: Frequent bowel movements can lead to dehydration. Dehydration can be best judged at home by the color of urine. Dark urine indicates an increased need for fluid, while clear and nearly colorless urine indicates adequate hydration. Avoid caffeine, fruit juices, and drinks that add to gas in the stomach (carbonated beverages and those used with straws). Low sodium: Sodium can be lost via diarrhea and should be replaced with electrolyte-containing fluids such as Gatorade or Pedialyte. Low sodium is common and typically diagnosed with lab testing, so be sure your surgeon is aware if you are found to have low sodium.

Between 10% and 20% of people are dissatisfied with their outcomes. In these cases, you may elect to have an ileostomy or another procedure after having the J-pouch procedure.

Summary

J-pouch surgery is an option for people living with ulcerative colitis and other conditions, including the genetic disorder FAP that greatly increases their risk of colon cancer. It involves removing part of the intestines and then reconnecting them to the rectum, so that stool passes through the anus.

It may be an alternative to a full ileostomy for some people. However, because most J-pouch surgeries involve two separate procedures, a temporary ileostomy is common during the interval so that the pouch heals and becomes strong.

Your healthcare team can discuss the risks and potential rewards of surgery with you. You’ll want to be sure you understand the procedure and its costs (they vary based on location, insurance coverage, and other factors), as well as what to expect during and after your recovery.