Section 9: Surgery
9.1. General
This section summarises the ECCO consensus guidelines on surgery in UC patients.12 It should be noticed that the level of evidence of these surgical guidelines is rather modest because robust evidence stemming from randomised studies is still lacking in the literature.
9.2.1. Surgery for acute severe colitis
ECCO statement 9ADelay in surgery is associated with an increased risk of surgical complications [EL 4]. A staged procedure, initially with sub-total colectomy, is recommended in acute colitis [EL 4] in patients taking ≥ 20 mg prednisolone daily for more than 6 weeks, or in those treated with anti-TNF [EL 3]. If the appropriate skills are available, a laparoscopic approach is preferred [EL 3]
