Complete resolution of intractable pouchitis in an obese patient following laparoscopic gastric banding

Abstract The authors present a case of a 46-year-old lady who underwent a total colectomy with an ileal pouch anal anastamosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis. She developed recurrent attacks of pouchitis which were resistant to medical therapy. Her quality of life was poor and she was virtually housebound by severe diarrhoea. Years of steroid use and limited exercise resulted in severe weight gain, for which laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding was performed. Over a two year period, she lost all of her excess weight and her pouchitis had completely resolved. We propose that gastric banding, in a carefully selected patient population may be considered as a tool to aid weight loss with consequent resolution of symptoms of intractable pouchitis.