THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Abstract

I am sure every surgeon wishes that the entire problem of ulcerative colitis might be taken from his domain. In the distant past, unfamiliarity with the pathology of this condition was undoubtedly responsible for the very poor results which many surgeons had and certainly this stimulated many investigators to perfect a medical management which would take the place of surgical intervention. In this regard, however, I think the pendulum has swung a little too far. We all remember the time, not so long ago, when pitched battles were fought relative to surgical versus medical treatment of duodenal ulcer. While neither is entirely satisfactory, it is now well recognized that both medicine and surgery have a definite place in the management of ulcer and the indications for each have come to be fairly well established. So it is with ulcerative colitis. The surgeon and the medical man must learn to speak