Summary
In a series of 17 adult patients with megacolon, six seemed to have Hirschsprung’s disease. All were said to have had the disease in childhood and all had normal rectums, but biopsies were done in only two cases. One of the patients was treated conservatively, but he died of pneumonia two years later, and collapse of the lungs secondary to the distention of the colon appeared to be an important factor.
Three patients had excellent results after sigmoidal colectomy. Pull-through excision (one case) may have been unnecessarily radical.
Patients with idiopathic or acquired Hirschsprung’s disease have had less satisfactory results after surgery, and after sigmoidal colectomy in particular. If intensive medical treatment fails, total colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis may be the best procedure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Connell, A. M.: Colonic motility in megacolon. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.54: 1040, 1961.
Ehrenpreis, T.: Megacolon and megarectum in older children and young adults. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.60: 799, 1967.
Gardiner, R. H.: Megacolon. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.46: 616, 1953.
Goligher, J. C.: Discussion. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.54: 1053, 1961.
Jennings, P. J.: Megarectum and megacolon in adolescents and young adults: Results of treatment at St. Mark’s Hospital. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.60: 805, 1967.
State, D.: Physiological operation for idiopathic congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung’s disease). J.A.M.A.149: 350, 1952.
Todd, I. P.: Discussion on megacolon and megarectum with the emphasis on conditions other than Hirschsprung’s disease. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.54: 1035, 1961.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Hughes, E.S.R., Hardy, K.J. & Cuthbertson, A.M. Megacolon in adults. Dis Colon Rectum 12, 190–192 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02617809
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02617809