Surgical Management of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a diffuse inflammatory disease of the mucosa lining of the colon extending from the rectum proximally. It can manifest clinically as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and other systemic symptoms like fever. While medical therapy remains generally first-line, surgery is often required in patients with medically refractory disease, toxic colitis, dysplasia, and/or cancer. This article summarizes the surgical options, operative approach, and techniques surrounding these operations.