Decreased absorption of 22Na and 36Cl in ileal reservoirs after exposure to urine. An experimental study in patients with continent ileal reservoirs for urinary or fecal diversion.

After urinary diversion to intestinal segments, reabsorption of chloride, ammonium, and hydrogen ions occurs, sometimes leading to hyperchloremic acidosis. The mucosa of ileal reservoirs exposed to urine show substantial atrophy, indicating a loss of absorptive capacity. In ten patients with urinary diversion via a continent ileal reservoir, the absorption of [22Na] and [36Cl] was studied after instillation for 15 min into the reservoir of a test solution containing 50 kBq [22Na] and 50 kBq [36Cl]. The activity of the radionuclides was determined in serum samples after 60 and 180 min and the fractions absorbed were calculated. Absorption of the two radionuclides was also calculated by comparison of the activities in samples of the test solution taken before and 15 min after instillation into the reservoir. The same investigations were performed in seven patients with continent ileostomy reservoirs. The study demonstrated a decreased capacity to absorb [22Na] and [36Cl] across the mucosa of the reservoirs exposed to urine compared to the mucosa of those exposed to feces. Due to the transformation of the ileal mucosa after exposure to urine, the risk for development of metabolic disturbances should be minimal after urinary diversion to a continent ileal reservoir.