Ulcerative colitis: from medical management to ileal pouch anal anastomosis: a patient's perspective.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that may require extensive medical and, at times, surgical intervention. Patients with UC are encouraged to form a multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide the support needed to cope with this chronic, debilitating illness. In this article, the authors provide the personal perspective of a patient coping with UC, the role of the gastroenterology nurse, and the viewpoints of key members of the healthcare team. Tracing the course of the disease from onset to medical management and then surgery, the authors relate the process by which the patient interacted with the healthcare team to reach the decision for seeking a surgical solution to the disease and how the patient coped with the rare but extended complications of surgery. The patient's decision illustrates the importance of her perspective and the varying roles played by the healthcare team. Medical management of UC and the technical aspects of ileal pouch anal anastomosis surgery are discussed.