Surgical Options in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Children and young adults with ulcerative colitis tend to present with more extensive colonic disease than an adult population. The need for surgical intervention in the pediatric population with ulcerative colitis occurs earlier after diagnosis and has a greater incidence than a comparably matched adult population with an estimated need for colectomy at 5 years following diagnosis of 14 –20%. Perhaps, even more than the adult population, there is a desire to restore intestinal continuity for the pediatric patient to achieve as healthy and normal quality of life as possible.
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Surgery - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Source Type: research