[Colonic necrosis, an unusual extrarenal involvement in hemolytic and uremic syndrome]

A seventeen years old girl presented a HUS. The usual gastrointestinal symptoms of the prodromal phase involved secondary complications leading to emergency surgical treatment. Laparotomy exploration revealed segmental necrosis of the colon which was treated by colectomy: histological studies revealed its ischemic nature with specific lesions of thrombotic microangiopathy. Later course was uneventful with the exception of renal failure requiring maintenance hemodialysis. Review of literature confirms the rare and severe nature of gastrointestinal lesions requiring surgery. Great care should be taken on one hand, not to undertake a useless operation and on the other hand to operate in time colonic necrosis involving or not intestinal perforation or intussusception.