Early outcome after emergency and elective surgery for ulcerative colitis.

The early outcome after surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis was retrospectively analyzed in 185 patients. The operation was performed on emergency indications in 25 cases, and was subacute in 53 and elective in 107. The postoperative mortality was 7% overall, 24% in the emergency group, 8% in the subacute group and 2% in the elective group. At least one early postoperative complication occurred in 71 (38%) of the 185 patients (92%, 38% and 26% in the respective groups). Infection was the predominant problem, occurring in 26% of the patients. The mortality was highest after colectomy and ileostomy, but this procedure was used in the most sick patients. Proctocolectomy was associated with the highest morbidity in all groups, whereas colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis carried no mortality and little morbidity.