Kock pouch

Kock Pouch

The Kock Pouch, also known as the Kock Reservoir, is a type of ileostomy that was developed by the Swedish surgeon Nils Kock in the 1960s. It is a surgical procedure that creates an internal reservoir to collect waste from the digestive system. This procedure is often used for patients who have had their colon or rectum removed due to conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Procedure

The Kock Pouch procedure involves the creation of a reservoir from a portion of the small intestine. The surgeon folds the intestine back on itself to form a pouch, which is then stitched together. A valve is created at the end of the pouch to prevent leakage, and an opening, or stoma, is made in the abdominal wall. The pouch is connected to the stoma, allowing waste to be removed from the body.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of the Kock Pouch is that it allows patients to have control over their bowel movements. Unlike a traditional ileostomy, where waste is continuously drained into an external bag, the Kock Pouch stores waste internally until the patient decides to empty it. This can improve quality of life and provide a greater sense of normalcy for patients.

However, the Kock Pouch also has several disadvantages. It requires a high level of care and maintenance, including regular irrigation to prevent blockages. There is also a risk of complications, such as pouchitis (inflammation of the pouch), valve slippage, and fistula formation.

Alternatives

Alternatives to the Kock Pouch include the Ileoanal Reservoir (also known as the J-pouch) and the Ileal Conduit. These procedures also create an internal reservoir for waste, but they use different surgical techniques and have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

See Also

• Ileostomy
• Nils Kock
• Ileoanal Reservoir
• Ileal Conduit

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