Evaluation of outcomes following subtotal colectomy for the treatment of idiopathic megacolon in cats

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes in cats undergoing subtotal colectomy for the treatment of idiopathic megacolon and to determine whether removal versus nonremoval of the ileocecocolic junction (ICJ) was associated with differences in outcome. ANIMALS 166 client-owned cats. PROCEDURES For this retrospective cohort study, medical records databases of 18 participating veterinary hospitals were searched to identify records of cats with idiopathic megacolon treated by subtotal colectomy from January 2000 to December 2018. Data collection included perioperative and surgical variables, complications, outcome, and owner perception of the procedure. Data were analyzed for associations with outcomes of interest, and Kaplan-Meier survival time analysis was performed. RESULTS Major perioperative complications occurred in 9.9% (15/151) of cats, and 14% (12/87) of cats died as a direct result of treatment or complications of megacolon. The median survival time was not reached. Cats with (vs without) a body condition score < 4/9 (hazard ratio [HR], 5.97), preexisting heart disease (HR, 3.21), major perioperative complications (HR, 27.8), or long-term postoperative liquid feces (HR, 10.4) had greater hazard of shorter survival time. Constipation recurrence occurred in 32% (24/74) of cats at a median time of 344 days and was not associated with retention versus removal of the ICJ; however, ICJ removal was associated with long-term liquid feces (OR, 3.45), and a fair or poor outcome on owner assessment (OR, 3.6). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that subtotal colectomy was associated with long survival times and a high rate of owner satisfaction. Removal of the ICJ was associated with less favorable outcomes in cats of the present study.

Idiopathic Megacolon-Short Review

Introduction: Idiopathic megacolon (IM) is a rare condition with a more or less known etiology, which involves management challenges, especially therapeutic, and both gastroenterology and surgery services. With insufficiently drawn out protocols, but with occasionally formidable complications, the condition management can be difficult for any general surgery team, either as a failure of drug therapy (in the context of a known case, initially managed by a gastroenterologist) or as a surgical emergency (in which the diagnostic surprise leads additional difficulties to the tactical decision), when the speed imposed by the severity of the case can lead to inadequate strategies, with possibly critical consequences. Method: With such a motivation, and having available experience limited by the small number of cases (described by all medical teams concerned with this pathology), the revision of the literature with the update of management landmarks from the surgical perspective of the pathology appears as justified by this article. Results: If the diagnosis of megacolon is made relatively easily by imaging the colorectal dilation (which is associated with initial and/or consecutive clinical aspects), the establishing of the diagnosis of idiopathic megacolon is based in practice almost exclusively on a principle of exclusion, and after evaluating the absence of some known causes that can lead to the occurrence of these anatomic and clinical changes, mimetically, clinically, and paraclinically, with IM (intramural aganglionosis, distal obstructions, intoxications, etc.). If the etiopathogenic theories, based on an increase in the performance of the arsenal of investigations of the disease, have registered a continuous improvement and an increase of objectivity, unfortunately, the curative surgical treatment options still revolve around the same resection techniques. Moreover, the possibility of developing a form of etiopathogenic treatment seems as remote as ever.

Idiopathic megacolon and megarectum in an adult treated with laparoscopic modified Duhamel procedure

Idiopathic megacolon (IMC) and idiopathic megarectum (IMR) describe an abnormality of the colon or rectum, characterised by a permanent dilatation of the bowel diameter in the absence of an identifiable cause. We present a 23-year-old woman with chronic constipation and excessive straining during defecation who presented at the emergency department in partial gut obstruction with a palpable fecaloma. Manual faecal disimpaction and a sigmoid loop colostomy was initially done. A full thickness rectal biopsy was positive for ganglion cells. Further workup led to the diagnosis of chronic IMC and IMR. The patient underwent laparoscopic modified Duhamel procedure, with an uneventful postoperative course.

Idiopathic Megacolon in an Adolescent Girl: a Case Report on a Rare Disease

Introduction: Idiopathic Megacolon is a rare condition where there is persistent dilatation of colon in the absence of identifiable cause. Symptoms start as early as in childhood or in adulthood. Colectomy have shown to have high success rate in patient with idiopathic megacolon. We reported a case of an adolescent girl with idiopathic megacolon that was successfully treated with colectomy.Presentation of case: A 15 years old girl presented with a complaint of abdominal pain associated with gradual abdominal distension for 1 week duration, not passing flatus and had multiple episodes of vomiting. She was diagnosed to have sigmoid volvulus and underwent endoscopy decompression, however symptoms recurred. Segmental colectomy was performed and she had an uneventful recovery. Discussion: Patient presented with acute intestinal obstruction attributed to sigmoid volvulus with a history of constipation. A diagnostic dilemma between Hirschsprung’s disease with other causes of megacolon occurred as these diseases have similar presenting symptoms. A confirm histopathology of presence of ganglionic cells within the plexus exclude the diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease hence the diagnosis of Idiopathic Megacolon was made. Segmental colectomy give good result in relieving patient symptoms of abdominal pain and constipation and one of the recommended surgical options in treating Idiopathic Megacolon.Conclusion: Idiopathic megacolon is a rare disease and for a long time has been a disease of exclusion. Rectal biopsy is important to exclude the diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s Disease. There are wide variety of surgical treatment available in treating Idiopathic megacolon. Segmental Colectomy have shown good success rate.

An Obscure Colon Dilatation and its Underlying Cause: Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: Congenital as well as acquired diseases may be responsible for the development of a megacolon. In adult patients, Clostridium difficile associated infection as well as late-onset of Morbus Hirschsprung disease are known to cause a megacolon. In addition, malignant as well as benign colorectal strictures may lead to intestinal dilatation. In case of an idiopathic megacolon, the underlying cause remains unclear. Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 44-year-old male patient suffering from a long history of chronic constipation. He presented himself with an obscurely dilated large intestine with bowel loops up to 17 centimeters in diameter. Radiological as well as endoscopic examination gave evidence of a spastic process in the sigmoid colon. The patient was treated with a subtotal colectomy and the intraoperative findings revealed a stenotic stricture in the sigmoid colon. Since the histological examination did not find a conclusive reason for the functional stenosis, an immunohistochemical staining was advised. This showed a decrease in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the stenotic part of the sigmoid colon. Discussion: This case report describes a patient with an idiopathic megacolon, where the underlying cause remained unclear until an immunohistochemical staining of the stenotic colon showed a substantial decrease of ICCs. Various pathologies leading to a megacolon are reviewed and discussed.

Effects of a probiotic (SLAB51™) on clinical and histologic variables and microbiota of cats with chronic constipation/megacolon: a pilot study

Chronic constipation (CC) and idiopathic megacolon (IMC) occur frequently in cats. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a multi-strain probiotic (SLAB51™) in constipated cats (n=7) and in patients with megacolon and constipation (n=3). Ten pet cats with a diagnosis of chronic constipation, non-responsive to medical management received orally 2×1011 bacteria daily for 90 days. For microbiota analysis, selected bacterial groups were analysed by qPCR. Histological samples in megacolons were evaluated for interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), enteric neurons, and neuronal apoptosis. Biopsies were compared at baseline (T0) and after the end of treatment (T1), and with those obtained from healthy control tissues (archived material from five healthy cats). Constipated cats displayed significantly lower ICC, and cats with idiopathic megacolon had significantly more apoptotic enteric neurons than controls. After treatment with SLAB51™, significant decreases were observed for feline chronic enteropathy activity index (FCEAI) (P=0.006), faecal consistency score, and mucosal histology scores (P<0.001). In contrast, a significant increase of ICC was observed after probiotic therapy. Lactobacillus spp. and Bacteroidetes were increased significantly after treatment (comparing constipated cats before and after treatment, and control healthy cats to constipated cats after treatment), but no other differences in microbiota were found between healthy controls and constipated cats. Treatment with SLAB51™ in cats with chronic constipation and idiopathic megacolon showed significant clinical improvement after treatment, and histological parameters suggest a potential anti-inflammatory effect of SLAB51™, associated with a reduction of mucosal infiltration, and restoration of the number of interstitial cells of Cajal.