Continent Ileostomy

A continent ileostomy (also known as a “Koch pouch” or a “T-pouch”) is an alternative to “J-pouch” surgery for ulcerative colitis or other conditions that require removal of the colon and rectum. It involves creation of a reservoir that is not a typical “stoma.” Patients can intermittently drain stool via a tube inserted into the reservoir through a special valve in the abdominal wall created with intestine. It is a specialized procedure and Dr. Andreas Kaiser is one of only a handful of surgeons who perform this procedure in California. Because it is so specialized, not every patient will qualify for this treatment.