
This young patient has diarrhoea and is clearly
unwell. What does this xray suggest?
How is it managed?
This is a case of toxic dilatation of the
colon in a patient who is thought to have Crohn's disease. Notice the featureless
distended colon, particularly at the splenic flexure and the irregular mucosal
pattern near the hepatic flexure.
Initial treatment is with broad spectrum antibiotics and intravenous steroids.
If the patient fails to respond, then total colectomy with ileostomy would
be the preferred emergency treatment.
(See below for further details)