Published May 11, 2004
gladtobeOB
76 Posts
Just a quick question, have a 17 yr old female with hx of volvulus when she was an infant, presented with severe abdominal pain. This am she had a sigmoid colon resection with colostomy and Hartman's pouch. Is this procedure reversible? I am guessing not but I may be wrong. (I surely hope I am wrong for her sake) What is your experiences?
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
How are they going to reverse it if the colon is gone?
Hartman's are internal pouches once they are completed. Compared to the old fashioned colostomy these are a godsend for many people.
Are you familiar with the differences between a Hartman pouch and a regular colostomy?
If not, let me know and I will post some information for you.
lsyorke, RN
710 Posts
Sounds like a Hartmans Procedure! Why would they do a hartmans pouch and a colostomy?? If they did a sigmoid colon resection with colostomy, yes it can be reversed!!
Thanks for the reply suzanne. Will look tomorrow for the correct surgery so as to be more helpful and I will talk to DR if I see him. No, I am not familiar with the differences in regular colostomy and a Hartman's pouch. Please elaborate!
That is why I answered the way that I did. Sure a colostomy can be reversed, but if they usually do a Hartman, it usually means that they are not planning on a reversal.
If you send me your e-mail address, I will forward a set of the teaching materials that I use for my students.
The Hartman is usually a 3 stage procedure, so if they were consideredin g a reversal, I don't think that they would put anyone through this.
caroladybelle, BSN, RN
5,486 Posts
As an IBD patient, I try to keep up.
I don't know about reversing with a Hartman's pouch.
I am aware of a J Pouch procedure, that is done following a full colectomy. In some IBD long termers, the risk of colon ca becomes very high. The entire colon is removed, and the Ilieum (sp?)is cut and patched together to form a new "Colon". The patient may have a temporary colostomy while the Ilieum? ("new colon") heals, then after healing, there is reanastomosis. The patient has more BMs but does usually have continence and no ostomy.