title: Non-obstructive colonic dilatation in the trauma patient: an analysis of six patients.
abstract: Non-obstructive colonic dilatation was diagnosed in six of 13,641 patients admitted to a Level I trauma centre over a 70-month period (incidence, less than 0.05 per cent). Four were older than 60 years, and five required long-term support on a ventilator. Successful treatment depends on expeditious decompression of the dilated colon. Fibreoptic colonoscopy is the recommended method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003112:Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*