Toxic Megacolon

Excerpt

Toxic megacolon is a rare but potentially deadly complication of colonic inflammation. Its definition is a nonobstructive dilation of the colon, which can be total or segmental and is usually associated with systemic toxicity. It is most commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, yet any condition that leads to inflammation of the colon can potentially cause toxic megacolon.