How to Manage Pouchitis: a Consensus Guideline From Global Pouch Consortium

Pouchitis and other diseases of the ileal pouch, also known as the J pouch, have always been very challenging to manage. The lack of large randomized controlled trials has added to the dilemma of treating pouchitis and other associated diseases. The International Ileal Pouch Consortium recently published consensus guidelines to help physicians treat pouchitis. A steering committee performed a thorough review of the literature and created statements, and then, a group of more than 30 international experts participated in the Delphi process and voted for these guideline statements.

The authors recommend that the initial episode of pouchitis be managed with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. Topical budesonide should be considered second-line therapy. For chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis, vedolizumab is preferred over anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. The failure of a specific agent before J-pouch surgery should not preclude its use. Some patients may need long-term suppressive antibiotics to manage their pouchitis.