Objective: A recent survey of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) identified wide regional variations of care within the UK. The present study was designed to analyse paediatric surgical provision for children with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Methods: All UK paediatric surgical centres were contacted to identify surgeons with a subspecialist interest in IBD. A questionnaire was designed to probe specific areas including team working, caseload, and transitional care. Annual consultant caseload was requested for colonoscopy, J-pouch ileoanal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis, and strictureplasty (Crohn's disease). The questionnaire and the accompanying letter were approved by the BAPS Research and Clinical Effectiveness Committee.

Results: The response rate from individual centres was 86% (25/29). In 11% of centres, care was shared between 2 consultants. A transitional care clinic was provided by 77% of centres. The median experience with IPAA was 0.9 cases per year of consultant practice (range, 0-3.7), and 12.5% of surgeons had limited experience of revision pouch surgery. The majority have arrangements for joint operating with adult surgeons for IPAA. Forty percent of surgeons reported experience with strictureplasty. Surgical preference for recalcitrant left-side Crohn's colitis favoured segmental resection (60%), compared to subtotal/panproctocolectomy.

Conclusions: Paediatric surgeons use a diversity of surgical management options in IBD. Experience with IPAA is limited for most surgeons. Whether children should undergo elective IPAA independent of experienced adult practitioners, who naturally assume responsibility after transition, requires careful debate.