Terminal motor latency in the pudendal nerves after colectomy with mucosal proctectomy and ileal J pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies (PNTML) were measured in eight patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent colectomy with mucosal proctectomy and ileal J pouch-anal anastomosis, using a new digitally directed transrectal stimulation and recording technique, and the results were compared with data obtained from 15 control subjects. The conduction delay of PNTML in the patients with some degree of fecal incontinence was the longest, followed by those without any incontinence, and then the control subjects. These findings support the hypothesis that fecal incontinence after this procedure may be partially caused by damage to the pudendal nerve.