Q: I am 44 years old suffering from ulcerative colitis for the last 14 years. It was moderate all this while, but now it has become severe. I am contemplating the surgical option (Ileostomy). Please tell me if this operation is safe or there is any life threatening risk involved. Where in Mumbai is the best facility available for this type of surgery?

A:Surgery for ulcerative colitis involves removing the entire diseased colon, and either bringing out the end of the bowel as a permanent opening on the skin when the stool drains into a bag, or fashioning a new rectal pouch from the remaining bowel and preserving the normal anal passage. In the elective or non-emergency situation, the operation is usually safe, but in emergencies the mortality may approach 10%. I do not have much knowledge of the Mumbai medical scene, but I do know Dr Sanjay Nagral of Jaslok and Dr SK Mathur of Wockhardt hospital perform both these procedures.