Toxic colitis: diagnosis and management.

Toxic colitis, a serious complication of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, may be life threatening. Early diagnosis and ensuing intensive medical therapy may control the disease process. Lack of rapid response to medical therapy necessitates surgical intervention. Subtotal colectomy and ileostomy is the operative procedure of choice. This allows resolution of the disease process and does not destroy the options for restorative operation at a later date.