The place of isolated rectal excision in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Four patients with ulcerative proctocolitis apparently confined to the rectum had incapacitating diarrhoea which was treated by rectosigmoid resection and a left iliac colostomy. In 3 patients disease recurred within a year, but responded well to conservation management. One of the patients required colectomy and ileostomy 5 years after the initial operation.