Surgery for ulcerative colitis.

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a relatively new surgical alternative to conventional ileostomy in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis. The rationale for the operation is that the disease is cured by the colectomy, proximal proctectomy, and distal endorectal mucosal resection, but enteric continence is maintained because the anal sphincters are preserved and the reservoir capacity is restored by incorporating an ileal pouch. This article describes the criteria for selecting appropriate patients, the surgical technique, the short- and long-term clinical results, and the physiologic consequences of the operation. The possible implications of this new procedure on the future management of patients with chronic ulcerative colitis are also presented.