Objective: The outcomes of surgical management for ulcerative colitis (UC) in
western people have been well discussed in the literature. However, there are few
reports of surgical treatment of UC in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to evaluate
outcomes of 35 consecutive patients who underwent different colectomies by a single
surgeon.
Methods: A series of 35 patients who received surgical treatment for UC between
December 1983 and August 2005 were analyzed. The discussion is focused on the
surgical indications and functional results after surgical treatment. Various articles in
the literature are reviewed and their results compared with ours.
Results: Total proctocolectomy with conventional Brooke ileostomy was performed
in one patient with an initially favorable outcome. Total colectomy with ileostomy was
performed in one patient, who, however, succumbed to heart disease and sepsis postoperatively.
Eleven patients underwent total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis
and all had satisfactory functional outcomes. Twenty-two patients received
restorative proctocolectomy. There was no operation-related death. The morbidity
rate was as high as that in the literature. Five pouches (23%) have been excised for
pouch failure. The mean daytime and nighttime frequencies were 4.2 and 2.2 times
respectively. Three patients (15%) with intermittent pouchitis were ameliorated by
medical treatment.
Conclusions: Several surgical options are available for the treatment of ulcerative
colitis. Each option has its place and should be discussed with every patient. The
outcome of restorative proctocolectomy for UC in this series performed by one
experienced surgeon was acceptable.