Their mechanism of action is unknown. In patients with ongoing active disease that fails to respond to all forms of management, surgery may be indicated. If surgery is necessary, the whole colon usually must be removed. In most of these patients, the anus can be spared and a pouch can be created from the small bowel. In these cases, bowel movements can pass through the anus rather than necessitating an ileostomy.
Ulcerative colitis can follow one of a number of courses.
The patient may have an initial episode and then go into remission for a long period of time. Other patients may have occasional flare-ups, still others may have ongoing continuous disease. Ulcerative colitis patients should be monitored by their physician on a regular basis, even if they are in remission.