Introduction Corticosteroids increase the risk of serious and opportunistic infections, independently and in combination with immunosuppressives. Steroids increase risk of post operative sepsis OR 1.68 in Crohn9s disease. 1 Addition of immunosuppressants in Crohn9s increases the risk of opportunistic infection. 2 In acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) addition of ciclosporin is standard management for patients not responding rapidly to IV steroids alone. Some patients do not respond and require urgent surgery. 3 The risk of preoperative ciclosporin therapy to postoperative complications is not known. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients undergoing colectomy for UC in 2009–2010 in a large centre. 40 colectomies were identified: 26 for ASUC the remainder for cancer or steroid dependency. Differences in post operative complication rates for all 40 individuals were compared between those who received ciclosporin (cases) and those who did not (controls). Analysis was by logistic regression techniques within STATA correcting for steroid use pre and post operatively. Age, gender ASA grade and diabetes were included as potential confounders. Results In our panel there was no increase in post operative wound infections, (OR 0.4, p=0.34) intra-abdominal sepsis (OR 1.32, p=0.74), non-GI serious infections (OR 1.9, p=0.39) or all sepsis (OR 0.47, p=0.29) in ciclosporin treated patients compared with controls. There was also no increase in complication rates in patients given high dose steroids before (OR 0.14, p=0.1) or after admission (OR 1.2, p=0.75). Neither steroid use nor ciclosporin use predicted thromboembolic or bleeding complications or need for HDU. Conclusion Used appropriately in accordance with current guidelines 4 neither steroids nor ciclosporin increase the risk of post operative infective complications in patients failing medical therapy for ASUC. Competing interests None declared. References 1. Subramanian V . Am J Gastro 2008; 103 :2373. 2. Toruner M . Gastro 2008; 134 :929. 3. Van Assche G . Gastro 2003; 125 :1025. 4. Travis S . J Crohn9s Colitis 2008; 2 :24.