Morbidity of subtotal colectomy in patients with severe ulcerative colitis unresponsive to cyclosporin.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to document the morbidity of urgent subtotal colectomy and ileostomy in patients with severe ulcerative colitis who failed cyclosporin treatment.


METHODS
We reviewed the charts of patients with severe ulcerative colitis who did not respond to cyclosporin treatment and underwent urgent subtotal colectomy and Brooke ileostomy at two inflammatory bowel disease centers over the 12-month period ending April 1994.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients (6 males; mean age, 34 years) required an urgent subtotal colectomy and Brooke ileostomy after failing treatment with cyclosporin. There were no deaths. Eight patients (57 percent) developed post-operative complications, which included ileus (3), deep vein thrombosis (2), wound infection (2), and partial dehiscence of rectal stump (1). Mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 8.8 days.


CONCLUSIONS
These initial data suggest that cyclosporin treatment may not influence the safety of urgent surgical treatment in severe ulcerative colitis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000209:etiology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine