Two unusual cases of megacolons.
A 13-year-old boy with features of intestinal obstruction was found at laparotomy to have a sigmoid volvulus. A 7-year-old girl with a similar presentation had a tight stricture at the rectosigmoid junction causing obstruction. In both cases the proximal colon was grossly loaded with faeces. In the first child, a colostomy after resecting the sigmoid colon was considered the safer option, whereas in the second, an innovative method to decompress the proximal loaded colon using a sterilised colostomy bag was employed, enabling a primary anastomosis to be performed.
Chacko
J
J
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006.
Sparnon
A L
AL
Little
K E
KE
D000293:Adolescent; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002648:Child; D003125:Colostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*