Stage 3
Your doctor may suggest another stage of J-pouch surgery when you are taking high dosages of corticosteroids, have other health problems, or need emergency surgery for toxic megacolon or bleeding. While it is rare, toxic megacolon may lead to dangerous complications. It occurs when inflammation and swelling cause the colon to dilate and stop functioning properly. Stage 3 is typically done 2 to 3 months after stage 2 of J-pouch surgery. In this phase, the ileostomy will be removed and the small intestine will be attached to the J-pouch. [8]
