Ulcerative Colitis: Surgical Therapy

If drug therapy measures are not sufficient, a proctocolectomy may be necessary. This means that the entire colon (large intestine) is removed and part of the small intestine is converted to the rectum. The small intestine is then connected to the sphincter ani (anal sphincter), which allows normal defecation (defecation).

Since ulcerative colitis affects the mucosa of the rectum (rectum) and possibly the colon (colon; proximal extension), a cure is possible with removal of the same. The procedure should be performed using minimally invasive surgery (MIS); this reduces the risk of abdominal hernias (inguinal, umbilical, and incisional hernias) and adhesions (adhesions), among other things. [Gold standard]

In advanced ulcerative colitis, elective colectomy (elective surgery) appears to improve long-term patient survival compared with immunosuppression: 3.4% of patients with elective colectomy and 5.4% of patients with drug therapy (corticosteroids and immunosuppressants) died annually.Patients over 50 years of age appear to benefit particularly from surgery; the annual mortality rate (death rate) was reduced by 40% in them.