Megacolon
Pay attention to how massive this colon is compared to the small intestine! This isn't just a colon, it's a super duper megacolon!!! A megacolon denotes dilation of the colon that is not caused by mechanical obstruction. The common and useful measurement for diagnosing it is when the cecum is greater than 12cm (normally varies between 6-9 cm), the rectosigmoid region greater than 6.5 cm and the ascending colon greater than 8 cm. A congenial megacolon is called Hirschsprung's disease, in which nerve cells of the myenteric plexus are absent, it typically affects babies, and therefore isn't the case here. On the other hand, a toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication that occurs in association with a severe attack of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or an infection with Clostridium difficile. It is characterized by swelling and dilation of the large intestine due to inflammation and accumulation of excessive amounts of gas. Further complications like septic shock, hemorrhage and peritonitis rarely occur. The goal of the treatment is to decompress the bowel and to prevent swallowed air from further distending the bowel. A colectomy (surgical resection of all or part of the colon) is usually indicated if megacolon worsens.
