Laparoscopic treatment of fulminant ulcerative colitis

The complexity and risks of the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis are greater in patients with fulminant disease. Subtotal colectomy is frequently offered to such patients to control acute disease and restore immunological and nutritional status prior to a restorative procedure. The role of laparoscopy in this setting is poorly defined. The records of 18 patients with poorly controlled fulminant colitis on aggressive immunosuppressive therapy who underwent laparoscopic subtotal colectomy were reviewed. Postoperative complications occurred in six patients (33%). Postoperative length of stay was 5.0 +/- 0.3 days vs 8.8 +/- 1.8 days (p