Editorial - Surgery for ulcerative colitis from bags to pouches

Ileo-anal pouch anastomosis (IAPA) has replaced proctocolectomy and ileostomy as the standard operative procedure for patients with ulcerative colitis. Proctocolectomy with ileostomy is a safe and simple operation with predictable results, but the necessity of a permanent stoma is its major drawback. Since the description of IAPA in 1978, the procedure has undergone many technical refinements and is being accepted by a large majority of patients. Attention is now focused on the critical evaluation of the functions of the ileal pouch and its impact on the patient's quality of life.