S2013 Patient Perspectives on the Use of Intestinal Ultrasound for the Evaluation of Disorders of the Pouch After Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis

Introduction: Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is increasingly utilized for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. However, there is a paucity of data on the use of IUS specifically for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). The aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ experiences with IUS for complications of the pouch. Methods: A 10-question survey was electronically sent via the patient portal to adults with an IPAA at an academic IBD center who had both an IUS (transabdominal and transperineal) and pouchoscopy performed within the same month for evaluation of their J-pouch (7/1/2024 - 4/30/2025). The survey questions utilized both multiple choice format and 5-point Likert scale to assess attitudes about IUS. Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and those without completion of all IPAA stages were excluded. Results: A total of 98.2% (54/55) patients completed the survey. Regarding quality of life, 72.2% reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with their J-pouch. Only 3.7% had an IUS performed prior to this study for their IBD care. Most patients strongly agreed or agreed the following were potential benefits of IUS compared to conventional pouchoscopy: 92.6% less invasive test, 87.0% absence of bowel preparation required, and 92.6% absence of radiation and/or need for oral contrast. Most (83.3%) reported feeling comfortable with their IBD provider ordering and/or performing an IUS of their pouch. A qualitative analysis was performed with 3 major themes identified: i) positive perception of patients towards the use of IUS for assessing pouch complications, ii) preference for less invasive testing requiring less preparation, and iii) uncertainty about the accuracy of IUS compared to pouchoscopy with biopsies for their IPAA care. Notably, 64.8% were very interested or interested in learning more about IUS and 83.3% were very likely or likely willing to have another IUS performed for evaluation of their pouch. Conclusion: Most patients with UC and an IPAA have favorable perceptions regarding the potential use of IUS in their care. Additionally, the majority are interested in learning more about IUS as a tool for evaluation of disorders of the pouch.