| Abstract: | Of 20 patients under 15 years of age with proven diagnoses of megacolon, ten were treated surgically with either partial colectomy or resection of the entire colon down to the rectosigmoid junction after thorough trial of medical management. Follow-up shows five of these patients as 100 per cent relieved, one as 75 per cent relieved. Three were entirely well a few months after operation but have not been heard from since. One died of peritonitis on the 16th postoperative day.In four cases in which lumbar sympathectomy was done, the result was partial, temporary or no improvement.Of the patients not operated upon, several have been lost to follow-up, some are doing well on medical treatment, one died in early infancy, and resection is being considered for two.For children with congenital megacolon the authors recommend first a thorough trial of medical treatment consisting of diet, vitamins, drugs and enemas. This should be started as soon as possible after the diagnosis is made, in an attempt to prevent the distention and hypertrophy of the bowel from progressing. If distention remains after a reasonable trial period and the child is not gaining weight adequately, requires repeated hospitalization, and is three years of age or more, then resection of the affected portion of the colon is indicated. The risk of operation has been somewhat reduced with better supportive measures and chemotherapy now available. Since infants and extremely young children do not stand operation on the colon as well as older children, decision to operate should take into consideration the age of the patient. In the reported series, the patient who died following operation was the youngest—2½ years of age. |
