title: Fate of the rectum after colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of the study was to evaluate the cumulative success of colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis in 20 patients with ulcerative colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from patient histories and cumulative success was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven of 20 (35%) ileorectal anastomoses were lost. Cumulative success rate was 84% at 5 years, 69% at 10 years and 56% at 20 years. Most common indication for proctectomy was disabling proctitis. Other reasons for failure were postoperative ileal necrosis and persisting presacral infection. Patients with advanced colonic cancer managed relatively well with ileorectal anastomosis until death. No cases of rectal cancer were detected during postoperative follow-up but one moderate dysplasia was treated locally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ileorectal anastomosis can be chosen for patients who are not suitable for ileoanal operation. Rectal endoscopies are mandatory postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Surgery, Helsinki, Finland. anna.lepisto@kolumbus.fi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepistö
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000592:standards; D003082:Colectomy / Q000592:standards; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome