What is toxic megacolon and what are its causes?
Toxic megacolon is a widened (dilated) segment of the colon in a patient with severe inflammation of the colon (colitis). The megacolon develops when the lining of the colon is so inflamed that the colon loses its ability to contract properly. When this happens, the propelling (peristaltic) contractions are unable to move the intestinal gas along through the colon. The colon, therefore, accumulates excessive amounts of gas. The gas then increases the pressure on the bowel wall, which causes the colon to dilate. Patients with toxic megacolon usually are very ill, with abdominal pain, bloating (distention), and fever. The dilated colon can allow bacteria to leak through the bowel wall into the blood stream (septicemia). With continuing dilation, the inflamed colonic wall becomes at high risk for bursting (perforating) and causing inflammation of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). Both septicemia and peritonitis are serious infections, which, in some cases, can even lead to death. Toxic
Toxic megacolon causes Toxic megacolon is a widened (dilated) segment of the colon in a patient with severe inflammation of the colon (colitis). The megacolon develops when the lining of the colon is so inflamed that the colon loses its ability to contract properly. When this happens, the propelling (peristaltic) contractions are unable to move the intestinal gas along through the colon. The colon, therefore, accumulates excessive amounts of gas. The gas then increases the pressure on the bowel wall, which causes the colon to dilate. Toxi megacolon symptoms Patients with toxic megacolon usually are very ill, with abdominal pain, bloating (distention), and fever. The dilated colon can allow bacteria to leak through the bowel wall into the blood stream (septicemia). With continuing dilation, the inflamed colonic wall becomes at high risk for bursting (perforating) and causing inflammation of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). Both septicemia and peritonitis are serious infections, which
