Treatment of toxic megacolon

From 1970 to mid-1975, we have operated on 25 consecutive patients with toxic dilatation of the colon with no mortality. This report deals with the principles of management which we follow; primary emphasis is given to aggressive diagnosis and resuscitation, followed by early operative intervention. We prefer total abdominal colectomy with ileostomy and sigmoid mucous fistula for cases of toxic megacolon not complicated by hemorrhage.