Improving the management of patients with an ileoanal pouch

Colectomy and ileoanal pouch creation is the preferred surgical treatment for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Existing diagnostic tools for assessing pouch-related symptoms suffer deficiencies in validity and reliability. In addition, there has been very minimal research into the impact diet has on pouch function and inflammation of the pouch. This thesis provides a more reliable diagnostic index for the diagnosis of pouchitis and proposes a pragmatic use of non-invasive tests to assess pouch-related symptoms. It also enhances our understanding of the relationship between dietary factors, patients’ food-belief system and the mechanisms involved in pouch symptom induction or pouchitis.