title: Idiopathic acquired megacolon: the value of subtotal colectomy.
abstract: Forty-eight patients treated for chronic incapacitating constipation by surgical resection were reviewed. Thirty-seven had subtotal colectomy, eight had left colectomy, two had right hemicolectomy, and one had ileostomy, colectomy, and a Hartmann pouch. There were significant complications (21 per cent) and one mortality (2 per cent). A long-term successful outcome was found in 81 per cent of the patients on follow-up. Physiologic studies are recommended to improve the selection of patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003248:Constipation / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies