[Toxic megacolon secondary to pseudomembranous colitis].
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.
Villanueva-Sáenz
E
E
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
Herrera
J T
JT
Martínez-Hernández Magro
P
P
Ruiz-Esparza
J P
JP
Parrado-Montaño
J W
JW
Mejía
C
C
D000368:Aged; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000209:etiology*
Megacolon tóxico secundario a colitis pseudomembranosa.