title: Two unusual cases of megacolons.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chacko
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sparnon
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: 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*