Surgical management of pseudomembranous colitis

Abstract

The authors recently studied two cases of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) that required surgery and combined them with previously reported cases in the literature, which required surgery to propose guidelines for the surgical management of PMC. A total of 21 patients were studied. Indications for surgery included refractory disease in seven patients, toxic megacolon in 12 patients, and perforation in two patients. Operative management ranged from decompressive cecostomy to total proctocolectomy. The best results were obtained with subtotal colectomy and ileostomy. It is concluded that PMC should be managed surgically in a manner analogous to ulcerative colitis. If there is no improvement after 7 days of aggressive medical management, surgical intervention, ileostomy with subtotal colectomy is indicated to prevent complications. Complications of PMC, toxic megacolon and perforation, should also be managed with ileostomy and subtotal colectomy as simple decompression or segmental resection does nothing to alter the underlying disease process.