Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Toxic dilation of the colon; Megarectum
Symptoms
The rapid widening of the colon may cause the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
Abdominal distention - Abdominal tenderness
- Fever
- Rapid heart rate
Shock
Signs and tests
The rapid widening (dilation) of the colon makes this different from other conditions, such as chronic constipation, that can widen the colon slowly and do not cause sudden, life-threatening symptoms.
A physical exam may reveal signs of
Tests:
Abdominal x-ray - Blood electrolytes
Complete blood count
Previous Section
Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
