anus yes or no

Here's another question. Concerning an ileostomy, my general surgeon removes the rectal tissue, but leaves the anus.

Is that ok?  A colorectal surgeon would remove the anus too wouldn't they?  Is that better?

Hopeso

I believe the rectum is the anus. They usually don't remove the rectum unless it's diseased. If the rectum is left there, then there is the possiblilty of pull down surgery in the future, perhaps. Mine was so ulcerated from the Crohn's disease that I had to have it removed and the opening sewn shut. But, my colorectal surgeon left the sphincter muscles intact, just in case a new surgery is developed where I can have the ileostomy reversed. Right now, that is impossible for me.

My colorectal surgeon is the head of the colorectal department of the Cleveland Clinic. He told me that, even though there wasn't a reversal surgery for Crohn's patients, there might be sometime in the future so he left the sphincter muscles intact. Now, I THINK you can tell if you have them. Pretend that you were trying to hold a bowel movement inside (like it was before surgery). You should be able to feel those muscles squeeze and release. I'm not positive, but I think those are the sphincter muscles. I hope you still have yours, since medicine is coming up with new things every day!

Sue, I think I have seen a picture where there are 2 sets of muscles, and one sets inside of the other around the rectum, and I think they remove the inner ones sometimes.
Hopeso