Related articles: Toxic Megacolon
Definition
Toxic megacolon is an abnormal hypotonic distension of the colon, of acute onset, associated with damage to the myenteric nerve plexus (or Auerbach's). This occurrence determines important morphological changes and alters the motor coordination of the organ, causing stagnation of feces, accumulation of toxic metabolites and increase in microbial flora.
Toxic megacolon is one of the most feared complications of diseases that hinder normal transit in the intestine, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, intestinal tumors, diseases of the central nervous system and pest infestations.
Toxic megacolon may also depend on a congenital defect, Hirschsprung's disease, in which the last part of the intestine is devoid of nerve ganglia. From this follows an alteration of the mechanisms of intestinal peristalsis, on which the progression of the fecal material towards the rectum depends.
In the development of the disease psychic factors and drugs with toxic action on the nervous structures of the intestine may also play a role.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Asthenia
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Dysentery
- Abdominal distention
- Abdominal pain
- Temperature
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea
- Gastrointestinal perforation
- Blood in the stool
- Confusional state
- Constipation
- Sweating
- Tachycardia
- He retched
Further indications
The most common symptoms of toxic megacolon are increased abdomen volume, constipation and bowel obstruction. Severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, toxicosis, blood diarrhea that worsens over time, severe signs of dehydration, sweating, tachycardia, fever, weakness and confusion are also possible.
Stool stagnation and progressive dilation of the intestinal wall exposes the risk of perforation, often followed by sepsis and shock which in 30% of the cases leads to a fatal outcome.
The diagnosis is purely radiological and is indicated by an increase in the diameter of the intestine. Toxic megacolon requires surgery, with removal of a stroke or the entire colon.
