JLH posted:i’ve never heard of it, so have no advice. Sorry. However I too had a valve revision about a month ago and since then the stoma episodically prolapses. it can stick out about an inch. I also have episodic sharp pain at the site of the revision. I’m curious what your post op problem is. Thanks, Janet
I had my original K pouch surgery in 1982 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The K pouch worked great for over 30 years, but after dealing with unpredictable leakage issues for approx 18 months, I searched for a surgeon who still performed K pouch surgeries. I'm in Virginia, pretty close to DC and Johns Hopkins, but I was unable to find a surgeon near me. The revision was done in Sept 2017 at Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Jean Ashburn (she has since moved to North Carolina and another Doctor at Cleveland Clinic has taken over my case). A new stoma site was created and the old site was closed surgically. The surgery went well, but at my 6 week post op appointment when the waters catheter was removed and we tried our first post op intubation, the stoma nurses and myself were unable to get to pass the regular catheter into the pouch. The stoma nurses requested the surgeon to the treatment room and after several attempts, he finally inserted another waters catheter and I was sent home for another 4 weeks with the catheter inserted 24x7. The surgeon suggested the issue might be attributed to swelling/healing and the need for me to lose some weight. At the 10 week post op appointment, the same thing happened. Still unable to intubate. The angle/path of the catheter has a little turn in order to insert the catheter. The doctor could only insert the catheter when I was lying flat on the exam table, and it was still difficult for him to insert. The stoma nurse suggested the use of the NUVAL valve to the surgeon as a temporary measure. I'm so glad she suggested this! It has worked great and it has been such an improvement over the large drainage bag and/or leg bag. It has made my life much more normal. It's so easy. The only downside is the production of mucous (drips like a runny nose) so I have to keep a dressing on, and change it several times a day, but the benefits far outweigh this inconvenience. I will keep the NUVAL inserted for 3 months and return for my next appointment in Cleveland in mid-February. I have also continued to lose weight since the surgery in September so I'm hoping for 100% success at my February appointment and no further surgery will be required in order for me to successfully intubate.
Sorry to write so much, but maybe this will help someone else.