title: [Toxic megacolon secondary to pseudomembranous colitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of pseudomembranous colitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to present a rare case of toxic megacolon secondary to pseudomembranous colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The chart of a 75-year-old male, who developed a toxic megacolon secondary to pseudomembranous colitis no was reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical features and outcome of a 75-year-old male with pseudomembranous colitis are depicted. The main symptoms were no ever, abdominal distention, bloody and diarrhea; the man suddenly developed a toxic megacolon and taken was to surgery. Total colectomy with proximal rectal closure was performed. The patient died within 24 hours of the abdominal procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of pseudomembranous colitis. Its presence should be suspected when these patients develop no colonic dilatation with associated systemic toxicity. Aggressive surgical intervention is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía de Colon y Recto, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI I.M.S.S., México, D.F. edvilla@netservice.com.mx
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villanueva-Sáenz
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Hernández Magro
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Esparza
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Parrado-Montaño
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mejía
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000209:etiology*
vernacular_title: Megacolon tóxico secundario a colitis pseudomembranosa.