SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Abstract

The treatment of ulcerative colitis in both the acute and chronic phases of the disease is rather difficult. There is uniform agreement that these patients should be treated medically as long as they show improvement and continue in a satisfactory condition. It should be admitted, however, that some patients do not respond satisfactorily to any or all of the medical measures that may be employed. It is in this group that surgical treatment has been demonstrated to be effective. There is considerable disagreement relative to the number that should be submitted to surgical treatment. This number will vary considerably in different series of cases depending on the number of cases of acute fulminating disease as well as the number with pronounced late cicatricial changes. The longer that a group of patients is followed the more complications will be encountered in which operation must be considered. Without doubt, a group of