Proctitis following fecal diversion

Nonspecific colitis, histologically similar to ulcerative colitis, may be seen in the defunctionalized colon of patients who have undergone fecal diversion for indications other than inflammatory bowel disease. Little is known about this entity, which may have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications in any patient who undergoes fecal diversion. A case of symptomatic diversion colitis is presented. A review of the records of all patients who underwent fecal diversion in our hospital between 1978 and 1983 yielded one additional patient with asymptomatic colitis in the defunctionalized rectum. Further review of the literature produced only two articles pertaining to diversion colitis, underscoring the lack of recognition of this entity in this group of patients.