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An Innovative Surgical Procedure Provides a New Lease on Life
This Philadelphia-area resident traveled to Riverview Medical Center for an innovative J-Pouch
procedure to restore her quality of life.
Imagine not being able to go
to the store with your child.
Imagine being fearful to leave
the house. Imagine being constantly
drained and feeling as if you
had no life. For Rosalma Amaral,
M.D., and thousands of other
women and men with ulcerative
colitis, it's not a matter of imagination
— it's a reality.
A bowel disease that causes
chronic inflammation of the large
intestine, ulcerative colitis can be
debilitating or even life-threatening.
Symptoms include abdominal
pain, bloody diarrhea, a feeling
of urgency or inability to control
the bowels, fatigue, weight loss,
and night sweats. For some, the
symptoms are so severe that they
may experience up to 30 bowel
movements per day, making it very
difficult to lead a normal life.
After exhausting all medical
options, Rosalma decided it
was time to explore surgery to
treat her colitis. She researched
a number of physicians because
she wanted to find someone who was
skilled in performing the procedure for
colitis, which is both rare and complex.
Howard Ross, M.D., a board certified
colon and rectal surgeon affiliated with
Riverview Medical Center, was recommended
to her, so Rosalma researched Dr.
Ross and decided to travel to Riverview from the Philadelphia area. "Not every
surgeon does this procedure — it's very
complicated — and Dr. Ross has extensive
experience performing these operations
laparoscopically," says Rosalma.
In the past, colitis surgery often meant
removal of the entire colon and rectum
and the patient was required to wear a
small bag, or ileostomy, to collect the stool. Today, innovative surgeons are performing
a new procedure that creates a
pouch using the end of the small intestine.
"The laparoscopic J-Pouch, or ileonal reservoir
surgery, is an internal pouch formed
of small intestine," explains Dr. Ross. "The
procedure actually requires two operations.
The first surgery removes the large bowel
and the rectum. A reservoir 'pouch' is made
using the small intestine and connected to
the anus. At this stage, a temporary ileostomy
is constructed," Dr. Ross continues.
"The second surgery removes the ileostomy
and reconnects the bowel so that the pouch
becomes functional.
"For someone like Rosalma, surgery
eliminates the disease," Dr. Ross continues.
"After surgery, these patients can stop taking
strong medications and are able to control
their bowel movements. Their dignity
and quality of life returns."
After the surgery, Rosalma is just like
any other mom. She chases her 2-year-old
around the house, shops, cooks dinner, and
even travels. "I'm feeling so much better
that now I go out without the fear of getting
sick," exclaims Rosalma. "I've gained my
life back!"
 – Tria Deibert
Ross, Howard, M.D.
Board certified in General Surgery
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 403-2075
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