Ileorectal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis

Summary and Conclusions Opinions of authorities differ concerning what constitutes a successful result after ileorectal anastomosis. No controlled studies have been undertaken to provide an accurate estimate of the percentatge of patients with ulcerative colitis who can anticipate a successful ileorectal anastomosis. It seems impossible to predict which patients will have successful results and which will not. One-stage and two-stage operations seem equally satisfactory. No special postoperative complications occurred in our series. Some patients require constipating drugs after ileorectal anastomosis. As a rule, the rectum does not return to normal after ileorectal anastomosis. Most of our failures have occurred during the first 12 months after operation. Re-intervention can be difficult. The danger that cancer will involve the rectal stump may not be as great as we have feared.