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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2013; 5(6): 167-172
Published online Jun 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i6.167
Published online Jun 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i6.167
Current status of surgical treatment for fulminant clostridium difficile colitis
Andrew J Klobuka, Alexey Markelov, Department of Surgery, Easton Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine, Easton, PA 18042, United States
Author contributions: Klobuka AJ and Markelov A contributed equally to this work
Correspondence to: Alexey Markelov, MD, Department of Surgery, Easton Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine, 250 S 25th Street, Easton, PA 18042, United States. dr.markelov@gmail.com
Telephone: +1-516-6696821 Fax: +1-610-2504851
Received: December 10, 2012
Revised: April 18, 2013
Accepted: May 22, 2013
Published online: June 27, 2013
Revised: April 18, 2013
Accepted: May 22, 2013
Published online: June 27, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Studies of the surgical management of Clostridium difficile infection have been limited by small sample size and the lack of a standard definition of fulminancy. Our goal was to analyze the existing body of literature in an attempt to define host constellations which would predict the development of the more aggressive form of this disease and hence justify an early or earlier surgical intervention. We identified a number of parameters that are associated with unfavorable outcomes. The identified risk factors should be used to lower surgeons’ threshold for operative treatment early in the course of the disease.