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BCIR Procedure

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:11 pm
by Phuong
Has anyone ever heard of this? A friend of mine has recently been dx'd with rectal cancer and is looking at a colostomy, but the BCIR was mentioned as well. Apparently the procedure started in 1985 but there aren't any doctors in the SF Bay Area that are skilled in it, so it leads me to wonder if it is so specialized that more doctors aren't skilled in it or if there is another reason why it isn't as well known a procedure.

Re: BCIR Procedure

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:29 pm
by CRguy
Hey buddy !
don't believe we've had a member here with BCIR ... ????
BUTT there is a good google search which brings up a bunch of stuff
https://encrypted.google.com/#q=BCIR including a uoaa.org discussion forum !

it is basically an internal "pouch" option with continency as the goal
( J-pouch K-pouch etc. ) as opposed to an open stoma procedure

No personal info or first hand experience.

Cheers
CR

Re: BCIR Procedure

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 8:20 pm
by Phuong
Sorry I'm slow on the draw here. Thanks bud!

Re: BCIR Procedure

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 8:53 pm
by benben
Phuong wrote:Sorry I'm slow on the draw here. Thanks bud!


Hi Phuong, Off Topic - I know, but I just wanted to say I saw you on the Colondar and read your story.
You've been through so much and you have the scars to prove it, but your story is quite inspirational.
Your story is beautiful and so are you Phuong - scars and all. God bless you and yours. May you continue to reside in good health.

Re: BCIR Procedure

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 9:10 pm
by MissMolly
The BCIR procedure is performed by only a handful of surgeons at only a handful of hospitals (mainly located in Florida and Texas). It involves making an internal reservoir for feces that is accessed to empty/drain by a catheter that is inserted through the belly button). It is an ostomy, of sorts, without an external bag.

I would caution anyone who lives out-of-area from the participating BCIR hospitals and surgeons to proceed with a BCIR. Only someone who lives in proximity to the providing hospitals and surgeons should consider a BCIR. If you have a problem with the internal pouch or the catheter few physicians are going to know how to manage it. The pouch is susceptible to frequent pouchitis (an e-coli bacteria) and the indwelling catheter tract is susceptible to chronic inflammation and fibrotic narrowing.

Bottom Line: Make sure that you fully investigate the BCIR procedure, a full and open due diligence. There is a lot of marketing hype that glorifies the procedure as a carefree option to an ostomy. The fact is, unless you intend to remain in the geographic area where the surgeon and hospital perform the BCI'R, you will be in a quandary to find and access follow-up care. The average surgeon has no idea what a BCIR is.

The BCIR is for a select few individuals.
- K -

Re: BCIR Procedure

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 9:41 pm
by Phuong
Thank you for the kind words benben.

MissMolly, I suspected as much but THANK YOU! That was exactly what I was looking for.