Purpose: Proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch construction is the standard therapy for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) to prevent the genesis of colorectal carcinomas. In our patient population, we observed the postoperative development of adenomas not only in the pouch but also in the remaining small intestine. The exact incidence of these ileal polyps is still unknown, since the diagnostic possibilities of examining the small intestine are limited.
Methods: We performed wireless capsule endoscopy (CE) in patients who developed postoperative pouch adenomas (PA) to record the simultaneous occurrence of small bowel adenomas and PA. We operated on 46 patients with FAP (m:f 17:10, age 33 +/- 9 years). Thirty-five patients underwent proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch creation. Pouch endoscopy was performed in regular intervals at 3 months and then annually after proctocolectomy. Capsule endoscopy was additionally carried out in all patients with PA.
Results: Ileal PA occurred in 22.8% (n = 8) of the patients with proctocolectomy (n = 35) after a mean of 5 years after surgery. Eight PA patients (all with PA) also had adenomas in the small intestine diagnosed by CE.
Conclusions: Since jejunal and ileal adenomas occur in all patients with PA, we recommend regular follow-up examinations, which include pouch endoscopy at 3 months and annually after surgery in the presence of PA after proctocolectomy and pouch creation. On the basis of our observations, we recommend adding CE or double-balloon enteroscopy to the follow-up examination.