Surgical management of acute colitis and toxic megacolon

Toxic colitis, also known as fulminant colitis, or toxic megacolon when associated with bowel dilation, remains a significant emergent problem in patients with ulcerative colitis. The surgical options differ when compared with the patient undergoing elective resection for this disease and are influenced by the patients' overall medical status. Generally the options are total abdominal colectomy with ileostomy, and proctocolectomy with ileostomy or pouch reconstruction. In few circumstances, a decompressing colostomy and loop ileostomy may be performed. More recently, laparoscopy has been employed. The general surgical recommendations, indications, and techniques will be discussed.