Ulcerative Colitis: the Role of Elective and Emergency Surgery

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of auto-inflammatory conditions characterized by chronic, remitting, and relapsing inflammation of the alimentary tract. It is comprised of two phenotypically different entities: Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this article is to explore the role of the general surgeon regarding the treatment of patients suffering from UC while presenting a case of a 55-year-old woman with low-differentiated colon adenocarcinoma associated with ulcerative colitis. Patients with UC have a high-risk of developing colorectal cancer. While medical treatment is commonly the initial approach to UC, surgery constitutes a major contributor in dealing with UC. 
 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of auto-inflammatory conditions characterized by chronic, remitting, and relapsing inflammation of the alimentary tract. It is comprised of two phenotypically different entities: Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this article is to explore the role of the general surgeon regarding the treatment of patients suffering from UC while presenting a case of a 55-year-old woman with low-differentiated colon adenocarcinoma associated with ulcerative colitis. Patients with UC have a high-risk of developing colorectal cancer. While medical treatment is commonly the initial approach to UC, surgery constitutes a major contributor in dealing with UC. 
 Case report. A 55-year-old female with hypertension and iron deficiency anemia presented to our emergency department with fever, diarrhea, and epigastric pain for 24 hours which was not associated with heartburn, vomiting, melena, or hematemesis. On examination, the patient’s temperature was 39oC, heart rate was 104 beats per minute, blood pressure was 108/65 and the respiratory rate was 20 breaths per minute. Her abdomen was soft, without distension, and with no evidence of palpable mass...