Current surgical management of ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease is divided into 2 major disease entities: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by contiguous inflammation of the colorectal mucosa, always beginning in and involving the rectum and progressing for variable distances proximally within the colon. In ulcerative colitis, medical therapy, which is not curative, is directed at controlling symptoms and reducing the underlying inflammatory process. However, emergent or elective removal of the colon and rectum does cure the disease and also eliminates the possibility of developing a malignancy. Here we present the current surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis and issues in the management of ulcerative colitis. We discuss indications for surgical treatment, elective and emergent operative management, early and late complications of surgery, and functional results.