megacolon /mega·co·lon/ (meg´ah-ko″lon) dilatation and hypertrophy of the colon.
Toxic megacolon
megacolon [meg″ah-ko´lon]
acquired megacolon colonic enlargement associated with chronic constipation, but with normal ganglion cell innervation.
aganglionic megacolon , congenital megacolon Hirschsprung's disease; that due to congenital lack of myenteric ganglion cells in a segment of the large bowel, with loss of motor function in that segment and massive dilatation of the colon proximally.
idiopathic megacolon acquired m.
toxic megacolon that associated with amebic or ulcerative colitis.
| toxic megacolon n. Acute dilation of the colon, seen in ulcerative colitis. |
Toxic megacolon
Acute enlargement or dilation of the large intestine.
Mentioned in: Antibiotic-Associated Colitis
megacolon [meg″ah-ko´lon]
dilatation and hypertrophy of the colon.
Megacolon. From McKinney et al., 2000
acquired megacolon colonic enlargement associated with chronic constipation, but with normal ganglion cell innervation.
acute megacolon toxic megacolon.
aganglionic megacolon (congenital megacolon) Hirschsprung's disease.
toxic megacolon acute dilatation of the colon associated with amebic dysentery or ulcerative colitis; called also acute megacolon.
megacolon
(meg´
kō´ln),
n an abnormal dilation of the colon that may be congenital, toxic, or acquired.
kō´ln), n an abnormal dilation of the colon that may be congenital, toxic, or acquired.
megacolon, acquired,
n a result of a chronic refusal to defecate, usually occurring in children who are psychotic or mentally retarded.
megacolon, congenital,
n caused by the absence of autonomic ganglia in the smooth muscle wall of the colon.
megacolon, toxic,
n a serious complication of ulcerative colitis that may result in perforation of the colon, septicemia, and death.
toxic megacolon
Acute megacolon, toxic dilation of colon Gastroenterology A life-threatening complication of GI disease, resulting in transmural inflammation and toxic Sx due to colonic dilation Etiology ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease,
amebiasis, pseudomembranous colitis, typhoid, bacterial dysentery, Hirschsprung's disease Clinical Abdominal pain, distension, fever, tachycardia, fatigue, dehydration, ↓ bowel sounds, tympany, rebound tenderness, hypotension Contributing
factors Laxatives, opiate use, anticholinergics, hypopotassemia Lab Leukocytosis–> 20,000/mm3, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, ↓ K+ Complications Perforation, peritonitis, septicemia Management Resuscitation, metabolic support, correct fluid
and electrolyte derangements, corticosteroids, subtotal colectomy and ileostomy, salvage rectal sphincter if possible. Cf Megacolon.
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