a decreasing trendP < .02
14 , 17 Between 1998 and 2003, there was a decreasing trend over time in colectomy rates among White patients ( P < .02) but not among other racial/ethnic groups, which appeared to narrow the racial/ethnic gap in the colectomy rate. 14 There was also a greater proportion of Black patients who underwent subtotal or total colectomy with retention of rectal st