Fulminant Clostridium Difficile Colitis (FCDC) is a highly lethal disease with mortality rates ranging between 12% -80%. In patients status-post allograft solid organ transplant this rate is increased. Treatment, however, is the same as the general population; emergent exploratory laparotomy and subtotal colectomy. However, this procedure done in an emergent setting carries a mortality rate up to 34% as well as significant patient morbidity. To our knowledge, only a few studies have examined a less aggressive treatment. The technique involves creating a divergent ileostomy to deliver antibiotics directly into the colon. This patient, a 68 yearold male who underwent renal transplant 7 days earlier, developed abdominal distension and paralytic ileus with eventual diarrhea. C. difficile was confirmed by microbiological studies. Despite treatment with oral vancomycin and intravenous metronidazole, this patient developed sepsis and required laparotomy. The index case was complicated by cardiac arrest and aborted. Because of the poor clinical course, he underwent placement of cecostomy tube followed by antibiotic irrigation. Full recovery was achieved and complete anatomy of the colon was preserved. In patients with FCDC, less aggressive surgical options should be investigated, as they could have benefits on the subsequent quality of life of the patient.
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