Long term follow-up of surgical treatment for ulcerative colitis--with special reference to recurrence and the quality of life.

From 1961 to 1984, fifty-one patients with ulcerative colitis were surgically treated at Tohoku University Hospital. The results of various types of surgical treatments for ulcerative colitis were analysed and discussed with special reference to recurrence and the quality of life at the time of follow-up. Total colitis and left-sided colitis were observed in 42 and 9 patients, respectively. There were five operative deaths. Thirteen patients received total proctocolectomy and 38 patients received various types of conservative operations at the first operation. In seven patients there was a recurrence of the disease in the retained colon or rectum and proctocolectomy with ileostomy was carried out. Forty-six patients were followed. Four died of other diseases and two were lost to follow-up. The periods of follow-up after the final operation ranged from 3-29 years. The types of operative procedures were ileostomy in 19, ascendicostomy in 14, ileoproctostomy in 6 and ascendicoproctostomy in 1 patient. Following treatment of recurrence of the disease, in most patients who had undergone various surgical treatments, favorable results of quality of life were attained, even in those with ileostomy. These results indicate that it is important to select the most proper types of operative procedures for surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis by individualizing each case.