Synchronous colectomy and caesarean section for fulminant ulcerative colitis: case report and review of the literature.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects women of all ages, with a peak incidence in the third and fourth decades, at the prime of their reproductive years [Baiocco PJ, Korelitz BI (1984) The influence of inflammatory bowel disease and its treatment on pregnancy and fetal outcome. J Clin Gastroenterol 6(3):211-216]. We describe a case of fulminating UC at 28 weeks' gestation treated by combined emergency subtotal colectomy and caesarean section with excellent foetal and maternal outcome. A treatment algorithm is suggested, and the literature surrounding inflammatory bowel disease in pregnancy is reviewed.