[Megacolon congenitum (Hirschsprung's disease) in adults]

Hirschsprung's disease is rare in adults and represents a unique problem in the diagnosis and therapy. The permanent symptoms of the disease are persistent chronic constipation and meteorism. The degree of constipation depends on the length and narrowing of the aganglionary segment, diet and compensatory capacities of the bowel. Already known characteristics of agangliosis (absence of ganglions cells in intramuscular and submucous plexus, changes in nerve fibers and increased cholinesterase activity of the parasympathetic nerve fibers) cause impairment in peristalsis of the aganglionary segment and insufficient relaxation of the internal anal sphincter. The result is a functional refractory constipation. The disease can be diagnosed on the basis of the history, RTG examination, electromanometry and histopathology. In the majority of cases RTG examination is very reliable if performed according to generally accepted criteria. It is important to reveal the narrowed aganglionary area by oblique and profile images during irrigoscopy and irrigography. The treatment is surgical. The preferred operations are those with a combined transabdominal-transanal approach. Such operations are the most successful in management of constipation and maintenance of contingency. The authors present three cases. Three patients were old between 21 and 23 years. Their stools ranged from 10 days to two months (a stool per 10 days to two months). The diagnosis was established for all three patients by RTG examinations and histopathological findings. All bore the operation very successfully. Three various operation techniques were used according to surgeon's choice.