Which surgical procedure is explicitly listed as an option for ulcerative colitis?

• A. Proctocolectomy
• B. Appendectomy
• C. Gastric bypass
• D. Colectomy without ileostomy

Answer: (A)

Surgical cure for ulcerative colitis requires removing the diseased bowel, typically including the colon and rectum. Proctocolectomy removes both the colon and rectum, directly addressing all diseased tissue and offering a definitive treatment option. After this operation, stool is usually diverted via an ileostomy or managed with a reconstructive option like an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, depending on the patient. The other choices don’t fit as definitive UC treatments: removing the appendix doesn’t treat the colitis, a gastric bypass is unrelated to the disease, and removing the colon without addressing the rectum (or without a diversion) wouldn’t fully eradicate the disease or provide a practical stool-containment plan.