The British journal of surgery
-
Ileostomy function was studied in 12 patients with an established ileostomy following proctocolectomy, in 6 of whom minimal amounts (less than 9 cm) and in 6 significant amounts (30-120 cm, mean 60 cm) of terminal ileum had been removed. Patients who had undergone significant ileal resection had daily faecal volumes considerably greater than those with minimal ileal resection (1202 +/- 284 ml versus 401 +/- 92 ml, P less than 0.001), and also greater daily outputs of sodium (146 +/- 53 mEq versus 43 +/- 12 mEq) and potassium (12.7 +/- 9.0 mEq versus 4.0 +/- 0.99 mEq). ⋯ It is concluded that when recurrent inflammatory bowel disease, partial small bowel obstruction and intraperitoneal sepsis have been excluded there remains a number of patients whose high ileostomy output is due entirely to the amount of ileum resected. The management of patients with a high output ileostomy with codeine phosphate, Lomotil and oral administration of sodium chloride tablets is discussed.