Preservation versus excision of the ileocolic junction during colectomy for megacolon: A study of 22 cats

From 1984 to 1991, 22 cats with megacolon underwent colectomy by end-to-end anastomosis of the distal colon to either the proximal colon (preserving the ileocolic junction in 14 cats) or to the distal small intestine (excising the ileocolic junction in eight cats). During the postoperative adaptive period, the two groups showed similar stool consistency, and the presence of either anorexia, lethargy, weight loss or diarrhoea with faecal incontinence. During the long term post-operative adaptive period, no significant difference in recurrent constipation was found between the two groups. The overall constipation rate after colectomy was 45 per cent (10 cats), and because of constipation recurrence 18 per cent (four cats) were euthanased, and 18 per cent (four cats) required further surgery. Long term following colectomy, those cats which under-went excision of the ileocolic junction had significantly looser stools than those cats in which the ileocolic junction was preserved. The preservation of the ileocolic junction during colectomy is therefore recommended.