Abstract Abstract AIM: Persistent cholestasis is a rare complication of severe trauma or infections. Little is known about the possible pathomechanisms and the clinical course.

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SUMMARY Thirty-seven patients were studied who had an ileorectal anastomosis performed for Crohn's disease of the colon. Twenty-nine were done as a primary procedure and in eight the anastomosis was made after previous total or segmental colectomy. Three There has been much discussion and controversy concerning the practicality of performing an ileorectal anastomosis after colectomy for Crohn's colitis. The surgeon may choose to leave the rectum in situ either because he considers the patient to be a poor surgical risk or because the rectum appears to be normal or near normal at the time of surgery. Total colectomy with ileostomy and mucous fistula is the most frequently performed operation for extensive Crohn's colitis, but it is our contention that either a primary ileorectal anastomosis or an ileorectal anastomosis after a total colectomy and ileostomy is a preferable procedure in selected cases.The purpose of this study was to analyze our results in a group of 37 patients with Crohn's disease of the colon who were treated by colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis so as to have a basis for comparison with the results obtained with colectomy

Experience with 28 patients with toxic dilatation of the colon is reviewed. The operative mortality in this series was 32% (9/28). Eight of the 9 patients who died were found to have colonic perforations at operation; in contrast, the group of patients with no perforations had a mortality rate of only 6%. Colonic perforation and sepsis were the most significant factors contributing to mortality and morbidity in this series. A review of the literature showed an overall operative mortality rate of 19.5% for patients with toxic megacolon; the mortality rate was 41% for patients with perforations and 8.8% for patients without perforations. It appears that the keystone to successful management is the avoidance of colonic perforation and sepsis; protracted medical management of toxic megacolon seems to have been at least partly responsible for these complications. Sixteen of the 18 survivors following subtotal colectomy required removal of the rectum within 9 months because of continued symptoms and disease in the rectal stump.