Appendectomy as Treatment for Ulcerative Proctitis?

Numerous studies have shown that appendectomy is associated with lower risk for development of ulcerative colitis. However, whether the use of appendectomy to treat active ulcerative colitis can delay progression of the disease is unclear.

To investigate this issue, researchers conducted a prospective, uncontrolled study of 30 patients who underwent appendectomy as a potential treatment for ulcerative proctitis (median duration of symptoms, 5 years). Preoperative colonoscopy confirmed active ulcerative proctitis in all patients and periappendiceal inflammation in three patients. Of the 30 appendixes removed, 29 (97%) were macroscopically normal; however, microscopic evidence showed that 53% of patients had ulcerative appendicitis and that 23…