Idiopathic megacolon in a teenager treated by laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy / Megacolon idiopático em adolescente tratado por retossigmoidectomia videolaparoscópica

Abstract Chronic constipation in children and adolescents is relatively common and a reason for consultation with pediatricians and proctologists. Most cases respond to medical treatment. Advanced cases of megacolon and megarectum can be treated surgically by Duhamel technique. This case report describes a 15-year-old patient with chronic intestinal constipation refractory to clinical treatment associated with megacolon and megarectum, which was surgically treated.

Resumo A constipação intestinal crônica em crianças e adolescentes é relativamente comum e motivo de consultas a pediatras e coloproctologistas. A maioria dos casos responde ao tratamento clínico. Casos avançados de megacolon e megarreto podem ser tratados cirurgicamente através da cirurgia de Duhamel. Este relato de caso descreve um paciente de 15 anos de idade com quadro de constipação intestinal crônica refratária ao tratamento clínico associada a megacolon e megarreto, o qual foi tratado cirurgicamente.

Are There Anorectal Physiologic Factors Prior to Biofeedback Treatment for Constipation that Affect Compliance Rate?

PURPOSE: The most important factor for the success of biofeedback treatment of constipation is patients' enthusiastic participation and willingness to comply with the treatment protocol. The purpose of this study was to analyze differences among groups of patients classified according to the number of biofeedback sessions and to identify any anorectal physiological and clinical factors related with better compliance with biofeedback treatment. METHODS: From Aug. 2001 to July 2003, 80 patients who had undergone biofeedback treatment for constipation by a single therapist were classified into three groups according to the number of sessions: only one session (Group I, n=26), two or three sessions (Group II, n=27), and more than four sessions (Group III, n=27). We reviewed the clinical and the anorectal physiological characteristics retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age was 39.1 (range, 8~77) years, and the mean duration of constipation was 7.7 (range, 0.5~30) years and mean frequency of defecation was 2.2 times/week. Patients' pretreatment use of laxatives was significantly lower in Group I (38.5 percent) than in Group II (70.4 percent) or Group III (51.9 percent) (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in anal manometric parameters (mean and maximal resting pressure, maximal squeezing pressure, sensitivity, and rectal capacity). In the cinedefecographic findings, the megarectum was significantly higher in Group III (58.3 percent) than in Group I (38.9 percent) or Group II (27.8 percent) (P=0.02), but other findings of anismus, rectocele, intussusception, and delayed emptying showed no significant differences. The cinedefecographic parameters (anorectal angle, perineal descent, anal canal length, and puborectalis length), were not significantiy different among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We strongly recommend biofeedback treatment for constipation patients who abuse laxatives and/or for whom cinedefecography reveals megarectum.