Postgraduate medical journal
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The incidence, predisposing factors, management and outcome of toxic megacolon (TM) has been reviewed in 65 cases of severe ulcerative colitis (UC) and compared in 2 successive 6-year periods before and after January, 1973. Nineteen episodes of TM occurred in 18 patients. Despite a conscious aim towards earlier surgery in recent years this was not achieved, and despite more intensive medical therapy the incidence of TM was unchanged. ⋯ The chief cause of death was colonic perforation. Mortality was associated with increased age, longer pre-operative hospital stay and lower levels of serum albumin. These findings reemphasize the need for earlier surgery if TM is to be prevented, but such a policy must result in some unnecessary emergency colectomies.