Preoperative Considerations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease often present to surgery malnourished and on combination immunosuppression. These factors affect operation selection and postoperative outcomes. Corticosteroids have a well-established detrimental effect on postoperative outcomes, whereas the impact of biologic agents is more controversial. In a patient exposed to these medications, and in the presence of other risk factors, temporary intestinal diversion is likely the best choice. Enteral nutrition may help optimize malnourished patients at high risk of adverse postoperative outcomes.