title: [Role of care surgery in the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pseudomembranous colitis, caused by Clostridium difficile, has seen an increased incidence in recent years, driven mainly by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Although initial treatment is medical, the role of emergency surgery has gained ground due to high mortality and the emergence of increasingly virulent strains. In our country the prevalence is still low so that sometimes our experience in handling is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze our surgical experience in treatment of this disease and to remember the role of surgery as well as some technical aspects of it.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present 2 cases of patients who have suffered a fulminant pseudomembranous colitis unresponsive to initial medical treatment and requiring urgent surgical intervention with a good response to it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to keep in mind the surgical option in treatment of pseudomembranous colitis, especially when it presents as fulminant colitis, there are associated complications or failure to respond to medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía de Urgencias, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Sevilla Virgen Macarena-Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España. Electronic address: ltallona@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tallón-Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía de Urgencias, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Sevilla Virgen Macarena-Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de la Herranz-Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía de Urgencias, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Sevilla Virgen Macarena-Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía de Urgencias, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Sevilla Virgen Macarena-Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía de Urgencias, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Sevilla Virgen Macarena-Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cirugía de Urgencias, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Sevilla Virgen Macarena-Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Padillo-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
keywords: Cirugía; Clostridium difficile; Colitis pseudomembranosa; Pseudomembranous colitis; Surgery