Complications and quality of life after ileorectal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Ileorectal anastomosis is a safe operation with low mortality and morbidity and offers a good prospect for success in many patients with ulcerative colitis. The functional results are good in the majority of patients, and there is a high level of patient acceptance. There is a low cancer risk with regular surveillance, but there is a relative contraindication for ileorectal anastomosis in patients with colon cancer or dysplasia present at the time of colectomy. For many patients, especially children and adolescents in their formative years and for young adults, it avoids or delays an ileostomy and avoids the risk of postoperative sexual dysfunction, while at the same time still permits the elective use of some other continence-preserving operation at a later date.