Ileo-rectal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis-Long-term outcome, failure and risk of cancer at a tertiary centre.

Aim: Ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) is an option to restore bowel continuity after colectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Concerns that the remaining rectum may serve as a site for continuing proctitis with subsequent poor function and IRA failure and the fear of development of dysplasia and cancer have led to the abandonment of IRA in large parts of the world. This study investigated the outcome of IRA in a large patient cohort with UC and IRA with regard to failure of IRA and development of dysplasia and cancer.