DOES THE USE OF THE ILEOCECAL REGION IN RECONSTRUCTIVE UROLOGY CAUSE PERSISTENT DIARRHEA

The ileocecal region (ICR) is used extensively in reconstructive urolo gical surgery. To evaluate whether resection of the ICR may cause prot racted diarrhea, 50 patients undergoing ileocecal resection were studi ed. Fifty patients undergoing left colectomy for cancer were used as c ontrols. No significant change in bowel habits was noted in the contro l group. Among patients undergoing ICR resection 42% had transient loo sening of stools 2 weeks after surgery which improved within 3 months. Twelve months after surgery only 6 patients with solid stools preoper atively had loose stools, and none suffered diarrhea. In conclusion, i n the patients studied after resection of the ICR diarrhea gradually r esolved. More work is necessary to study other potential metabolic con sequences of such resection.