Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Surgical management of toxic megacolon.

Toxic megacolon developed in ten of 220 patients (4.5%) admitted for chronic ulcerative colitis over the past 11 years. Nine of these patients came under the care of the Surgical Department. Only three of these 10 patients had previously been treated with steroids. Steroid therapy reversed the acute process in three patients (33%). All three patients later came to surgery. Toxic megacolon developed during the first episode of ulcerative colitis in seven of ten patients (70%). Three of the seven (43%) had perforated their colons prior to operation. Two patients died after a subtotal colectomy and one without operation. A delayed diagnosis was associated with sepsis in five patients (50%) and with all three deaths. Seven patients survived proctocolectomy. Prolonged medical management without dramatic response appeared to correlate with a high postoperative morbidity. This study supports the concept of aggressive diagnosis and early surgical intervention for toxic megacolon.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app