Newer operations for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Four options are currently available to surgeons for the management of ulcerative colitis: the brooke ileostomy, ileorectostomy, Kock pouch, and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The latter comes closest to the ideal operation, as it is curative and physiological and restorative of quality of life. It is the authors' preferred alternative in most patients. Obstructive Crohn's disease of the small intestine can be ameliorated without loss of bowel by stricture plasty.