Ulcerative Colitis

[Guest Posts]

On behalf of a guest member:

I underwent a colostomy with a permanent stoma many years ago. Do I still need check ups? Thank you, Dave

[Dr Anton Bungay]

Hi Dave,

It would be unusual for a patient to have a colostomy for ulcerative colitis. The usual stoma a patient would be left with is an ileostomy. In any patient with ulcerative colitis if some colon is left inside the patient (it often is ) then this would need an eye kept on it. For example the very end of the colon near to the rectum may be left when most of the rest of the colon is removed. This 'stump' or remnant would require looking at every few years with an endoscope. This process would only start 10 years or more after the initial diagnosis was made. The reason for this is that we know patients with ulcerative colitis are at slightly increased risk of bowel cancer . This risk is reduced if a doctor now and again looks at the colon with an endoscope so any suspicious or concerning areas are picked up and eradicated early on.
Do ask if you have any further questions

Anton Bungay