Long-term functional results after straight or colonic J-pouch coloanal anastomosis.

Proctectomy followed by straight coloanal anastomosis (CAA) often results in poor functional outcome known as the anterior resection syndrome. It is now based on evidence that a colonic J-pouch CAA improves outcome in the first 2 years. We assessed the very late functional outcome of CAA patients with or without a pouch. These results show that the functional benefit of the J-pouch anastomoses is sustained over the very long term.