Colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis for colitis: report on a personal series, with a critical review.

In a consecutive series of 86 patients who required total colectomy for inflammatory bowel disease, 36 (43 per cent) had an ileorectal anastomosis. On review between 1 and 18 years after the operation, there were 25 patients who retained the anastomosis, all of whom were in good general health. Details of their clinical and sigmoidoscopic assessment and the histological grading of rectal biopsies are given. The results are compared with other published reports in a critical review of the present standing of ileorectal anastomosis.