Lancet February 2026 Appendicectomy versus switching to a JAK inhibitor in inducing remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis after biologic therapy failure (COSTA): 1-year results of a multicentre, prospective, cohort study

This study investigated whether surgical removal of the appendix could help patients with severe ulcerative colitis who no longer respond to standard biological medications. By comparing this procedure to the alternative of switching to JAK inhibitor drugs, researchers found that patients who underwent an appendicectomy were significantly more likely to achieve long-term clinical remission. Beyond merely reducing symptoms, the surgical approach also showed superior results in healing the intestinal lining compared to the medical switch. Ultimately, the findings suggest that appendicectomy is a safe and effective supplemental treatment for managing refractory cases of this chronic inflammatory condition.