Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of unknown cause. Same drugs, food and infections, genetic and immunological mechanisms, psychological changes may play role in the etiology of the disease. The most comman symptoms are diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and symptoms of the extra intestinal involvement. History, physical examination, sigmoidoscopy, mucosal biopsy and barium radiographic studies may be helpful in the diagnosis. In the natural history of the disease, acute attacks, life thredtening complications, and development of colorectal cancer may be seen. Therefore, appropriate treatment and management is mandatory. The need for surgical treatment is related to the course of the disease. As ulcerative colitis involves the mucosa of the colon and rectum, resection is sufficient for surgical treatment. Surgical indications are; failure of medical therapy, development of cancer or dysplasia, and conditions that require emergency surgery; fulminant colitis, toxic megakolon, hemorrhage, perforation, and obstruction.