London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis
SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR ULCERATIVE COLLITIS
A colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is a surgical procedure which may be able to help with ulcerative colitis
Surgery for ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a condition where part of the digestive tract (usually the rectum and colon) becomes inflamed. This can lead to diarrhoea, cramping and other symptoms. In some cases, a colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis may help. It's a surgical procedure which involves removing part or all of your colon (the large intestine) and joining the illeum (the last part of the small intestine) to your rectum. By doing so, it can help to restore your normal bowel motions.
There are two types of colectomy: open and laparoscopic. Your consultant will decide which is right for you. Both are carried out under general anaesthetic.
Need to know
Need to know
There are two types of colectomy: open or laparoscopic. Your consultant will decide which is right for you.
Open
Your consultant will make a large cut along your abdomen (midriff) so they can access your colon. They will then remove the damaged part of your colon.
Laparoscopic
Your consultant will make small, keyhole-size cuts in your abdomen and insert a camera through one of them. They'll use the camera to find and remove your colon. They'll then operate on your colon externally before reinserting it into your body.
In both cases, your consultant will join the the last part of the small intestine to your rectum.
You'll mostly likely meet your consultant or nurse specialist at a pre-surgery screening. This will be on a date before your procedure. They'll explain what happens during the operation and how you'll need to prepare for it. They'll also inform you of any risks or side effects.
After your procedure, we'll take you to our recovery ward, where you'll be cared for by our dedicated team of consultants and nurses. You'll stay with us until you regain normal bowel function. This could be for up to a week. We may also put you on a drip to keep you hydrated until you're able to drink normally. Your consultant or specialist nurse will let you know when you can leave the hospital and get back to you normal routine.
Our Colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis locations
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Digestive Centre
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
Patient stories
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Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.