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Individuals Who Have Undergone Surgery Requiring the Use of an External Appliance (bag) Should Know They Have Options.
Read Gary Woodward’s inspiring BCIR story
Patients who are unhappy or dissatisfied with the results of their procedures - those having a problem wearing an appliance, or who have an ileoanal J-pouch that doesn't function properly - may be candidates for an "internal pouch" known as the Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir (BCIR). Dissatisfaction aside, it’s an unfortunate fact of life that ten percent of those who have a conventional Brooke ileostomy will eventually need some sort of corrective surgery or procedure.
The usual reasons for corrective surgery include retraction, prolapse, or the presence of a hernia at the stoma. In cases of retraction the stoma becomes flat or flush with the skin, preventing a good seal with the external appliance. In the case of a prolapse the stoma protrudes too much. Rubbing against the inside of the bag [appliance], this causes chronic irritation and discomfort . A hernia frequently requires an ileostomy surgery revision because the muscle opening for the stoma becomes enlarged and causes bulging.
 In some instances a revision may be handled with "minor" surgery, but in a number of cases the procedure will require general anesthesia and a more major operation, as when it becomes necessary to relocate the ileostomy to the opposite side of the abdomen.
Whenever corrective surgery is required, the Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir (BCIR) should be considered because it eliminates the need for an external bag or appliance. An internal pouch is created from the patient's own intestine, as is the intestinal valve that gives the patient control over the discharge of intestinal waste.
If an ileoanal J-pouch surgery has been performed (also known as the pull-through, the ileoanal pouch, or the ileal pouch anal anastomosis procedure - IPAA) there is unfortunately always the possibility that the outcome will be unsatisfactory. Some J-pouch patients experience a lack of control as well as excessive daily evacuations..
Traditional surgery is only one option, because often the J-pouch does not need to be removed, but can be surgically transformed into the BCIR, which also enables the patient to avoid the use of an external bag or appliance.
Additional ileostomy information, specifically related to ileostomy surgery procedures, ileostomy care, and ileostomy diet, as well as a growing list of frequently asked questions, is readily available on this website. We hope you find it both useful and informative.
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