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what's with the silicone colon????

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/9/2008 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
HI there, i heard by a colleague today at work that a friend of hers had her entire colon removed more than a year back due to cancer in the colon.  because she didn't want to wear the colostomy back, she opted to have a silicon colon inserted.  How true is this?  I didn't even know there was something like this.....

According to my colleague, her friend was somewhat of a guinea pig in this whole process as an operation like this is very new.  it was also very painful. 

i would like to know your input with regards to this.  i havent yet googled this on the internet, am about to, because i think we should explore all our options. 

i am having the reversal done next year, God willing, but i have had 2 set backs since i have had more than 90 percent of my colon removed in an emergency op in 2006.  I just want to know whether anybody has heard of or has even have this type of silicon operation done.

Thank you

Bianca :-)

Posted 6/9/2008 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have not heard about it but would like to learn more.  Do you where she had it done?  Bellski

Posted 6/9/2008 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I've never heard anything like that, I looked it up online and couldn't find anything...  It sounds really strange; how would something like that even work and what would be the point of having it?? I mean, it wouldn't be able to absorb anything and there wouldn't be any peristalsis to move the food through. It seems like it wouldn't serve much purpose other than giving your food a little bit more of a path to travel before reaching the exit.
Posted 6/9/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
i'v read a little about colon removal and all though i haven't heard of a silicone colon i have heard of ileoanal puch anal anastomosis. which is where they attach an interal puch from the small bowel to the sphincter muscle. This may be old news but it's new to me.
Posted 6/9/2008 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Can't imagine it at all... The colon is an extremely sophisticated organ and I doubt a piece of silicone could replicate it's functions.
Posted 6/9/2008 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Haven't heard about this, but I imagine the main problem would be foreign body rejection and lack of peristalsis in the "silicone colon"... Obviously, since it doesn't have any muscles (like a real colon), what would push the contents forward? Also, how are they handling rejection? With immunosuppresion? What's the point then?
Posted 6/10/2008 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of anything like this, and I strongly suspect it's an urban legend. For all the reasons our smart members have posted, it just wouldn't work. Most people with UC who have their colons removed receive a j-pouch, formed from their small intestine, to take the place of the rectum so they don't have a permanent ileostomy.
Posted 6/10/2008 1:12 AM (GMT 0)

Could your colleague be pulling your leg or have gotten the story wrong?  There is a k-pouch which involves a valve being inserted in the abdomen for self-catherizing, but it's not a plastic recepticle that holds waste.  One of the reasons why colon transplants and plastic replacements will never succeed is that there is a better option and that's the j-pouch.  Since it's constructed out of the small intestine there is never a worry that the body will reject it and also there is no need to stay on transplant drugs (like prednisone). 

Sue

Posted 6/10/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
hi thanks for the replies....i dont think my colleague could be pulling my leg, but she might have her story wrong. i went on the net last night and didnt find anything at all and didnt want to bring it up at work again today....lol.

i do want to read up a little bit more on the j-pouch, because i dont know what it is...when you have the j-pouch, do you still have to wear a colostomy bag?


Bianca
Posted 6/10/2008 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
People with J-pouches don't wear a bag. They eliminate through the rectum just as we do. The big difference is, because the colon absorbs a lot of water as the waste travels through, their stool tends to be softer and they will go several times a day rather than just once or twice. This site has lots of information on the surgery and the pouch:  http://j-pouch.com/
Posted 6/11/2008 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
HI there,

thanks for the information....i will most definitely visit this site :-)
Posted 6/14/2008 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
i have read up so much with regards to this j-pouch via the internet and consulted my stoma-nurse as well and she telephonically explained to me what this is about and invited me to pop in by her whenever i have a spare time. i am definitely considering having this operation done, because i am really suffering with major discomfort at times. i would have to speak to my surgeon about it also though and get his input on this.

thanks for all your input on this topic.

:-)
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