Ulcerative Colitis Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is the most common of the inflammatory bowel diseases, with approximately 146,000 sufferers in the UK (NICE, 2011). Unlike other inflammatory bowel diseases, the inflammation in UC affects only the large bowel, starting at the rectum and extending proximally (towards the mouth end of the gut). Three in four patients are managed with medical treatments with acceptable control of their disease, but patients may require surgical removal of their large bowel for several reasons. The one in four patients who have their colon removed (colectomy) either need an emergency operation for infection, perforation or bleeding, or a planned operation for failure of medical management, intolerance to medication, cancer or steroid dependence (1). Because the inflammation is confined only to the colon, this surgery is curative.