Pseudomembranous colitis: a surgical disease?

Abstract

Despite the effectiveness of oral vancomycin therapy, surgical therapy is occasionally although rarely indicated for the treatment of toxic PMC. Surgical intervention should be considered when the patient has signs of organ failure, a worsening CT scan, or signs of peritonitis. At laparotomy the external appearance of the colon is often deceptively normal and should not influence the surgical procedure of choice, subtotal colectomy. These severely ill patients can be treated with an acceptable morbidity and mortality rate.