A Case of Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis Complicated With Toxic Megacolon and Perforation

Abstract

The case was a 50-year-old woman who had been diagnosed as having ulcerative colitis 19 years ago. She had been successfully treated solely with administration of 5-ASA (5-Aminosalicylic acid) for 5 years but was suddenly complicated by perforation and toxic megacolon. Therefore, we performed emergency operation and were successful in saving her. Toxic megacolon frequently complicates perforation and it is very important to properly determinine the timing of operation because the mortality is high in cases complicated with perforation. There is the potential for cancer with chronic progression of ulcerative colitis. Accordingly we must carefully decide the timing and procedure for a possible secondary operation in the future.