BCIR Surgery

Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir (BCIR) surgery is sort of a compromise between having a colostomy bag, which stores waste on the outside, and having an ileoanal anastomosis, a surgical procedure that allows you to maintain complete control of your bowel movements.

In BCIR, a colon surgeon creates an internal pouch from your small intestine. The pouch takes over the function of the rectum (or colostomy bag) and stores waste inside the body. You then empty the pouch by inserting a catheter (tube) into a stoma (access hole) just above the pubic region several times a day.

While this may not sound ideal, it can be great for people who aren't candidates for ileoanal anastomosis, or for people whose ileoanal anastomosis didn't work out well. If you've been told a colostomy bag is your only option, you may want to ask your doctor about BCIR surgery, since it may allow you to have an internal pouch rather than an external colostomy bag.