[Surgical treatment of inflammatory diseases of the colon : ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis].

Operations and follow-up examinations were conducted on 106 patients with ulcerative colitis, 33 with colitis Crohn, and 163 with diverticulitis, at the University Clinics of Cologne and Munich. Overall mortality rates were 24.5% (n = 26), 6.1% (n = 2) and 16% (n = 26), respectively. In the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis the possibility of malignant degeneration and, in the case of Crohn's disease, prevention of recurrences must be taken into consideration. Whether Crohn's disease is a precancerous conditions remains to be clarified. Choosing the optimal time for operative intervention is as important in diverticulitis as in ulcerative colitis. Because of the possibility of complications and the high risk of operation, early intervention is recommended for diverticulitis.