Glad to meet someone whose surgeon left the anus intact. We are in the minority here.
I had a total colectomy with end ileostomy on June 28th due to ulcerative proctitis. The day I came home from the hospital, I felt like I had to urinate and all this foul smelling "gunk" came out of me. I thought it came out of my vagina but my surgeon said it most likely came out the anus. That was the first time I found out he left the anus intact! For about three days following, I had this pinkish discharge which looked like the drainage from my JP tube. Long story short...I STILL have a discharge but I swear it comes out the vagina. I've been to my gyn doctor and he did a PAP smear and all is well. I do have some hemorrhoid problems too but Tucks seem to help a lot. about three weeks after my operation I developed an abscess inside the anus. The surgeon had to drain it 
. NOT COMFORTABLE..lol. Anyways, his answer to me asking WHY he left the anus intact is that there are more complications when sewn closed. Apparently, all this "gunk" and discharge that is coming out.....it would be sitting inside and we sure don't want that!
By the way, I researched my surgeon before going to him. He is head of colorectal surgery at Univ of Pa hospital in Philly and trained at the Cleveland Clinic and has been in practice since 1978. I have total trust in him.