Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic progressive disorder of the gastrointestinal system without a fully established aetiology. It includes the ulcerative colitis (UC) and crohn’s disease (CD). Both disorders lead to the inflammation in digestive system and result in tissue damage which is not limited to the gastrointestinal system but the damage may also occur enxtraintestinally in variable levels, especially in the hepatobiliary system and pancreas. Although the treatment of IBD is mostly medical, in the case of unresponsiveness or development of several associated complications, surgery may become inevitable. The surgery may be performed in conventional or laparoscopic techniques; the latter has more supporters lately. Development of laparoscopic technique and experience makes it possible to succeed in the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis. Lesser postoperative pain, earlier recovery of gastrointestinal functions, lesser hospital stay with earlier return to the daily activity and together with better cosmetic results, laparoscopic surgery becomes more widely preferred method of surgical treatment.