A 28-year-old man with a 6-year history of ulcerative colitis presents with 10 days of bloody diarrhea (>15 stools/day), fever 39.2°C, tachycardia 130, and hypotension. Abdominal examination reveals severe distension and tenderness. Laboratory findings show WBC 22,000/μL and albumin 1.9 g/dL. Abdominal CT imaging demonstrates transverse colon dilatation to 8 cm with mural thinning, loss of haustrations, and intraluminal air. The condition marked **A** in the diagram is suspected. Which of the following is the MOST critical immediate management step for this life-threatening complication?
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