Laparoscopic Total Colectomy & Ileoanal Pullthrough

What are the Laparoscopic Total Colectomy and Ileoanal Pullthrough procedures?

The Laparoscopic Total Colectomy and Illeoanal Pullthough procedures were developed in the 1970s to help people who had been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). These procedures involve removing the entire colon. The colon is replaced with an internal pouch that your surgeon will create. The pouch is then attached to your anus. Many people prefer this procedure to other alternatives because after all the surgeries, you are able to go to the bathroom the "normal way".
 

The procedures will involve 2-3 operations. Your surgeon will create a temporary ostomy, which is a surgically created opening that begins in your intestine (bowel) and goes through the skin of your abdominal wall. This opening is also called a stoma. When you have had an ostomy created, your stool will come out of your stoma (opening) into a bag or pouch that you will wear. Your stool ("poop") will not come out of your anus. This is only temporary until your body has healed from the surgery. Once you have healed, you will be able to go to the bathroom the "normal way".

People with Ulcerative Colitis and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis have several surgical options. The surgical procedure offered at Children's is the Ileoanal Reservoir (IAR) procedure with the creation of a J-pouch. It is also known as the Ileoanal Pull Through (IAP) procedure. We also perform this procedure laparoscopically, which is a less invasive method.