[Toxic megacolon complicated by ulcerative colitis in six patients: a case report and literature review].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical features of ulcerative colitis (UC) complicated by toxic megacolon for early diagnosis and proper treatment. METHODS: Six cases of toxic megacolon in the patients suffered from UC in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1983 to 2010 were analyzed, and related literature was searched and reviewed. RESULTS: The incidence of the toxic megacolon in the patients with UC in our center was 0.7%(6/824), which was lower than those reported in the literature. There were always risk factors triggering the disease. The prognosis of the patients was poor, even after medical care and surgery intervention. Evaluation of the patients and making right timing to perform the surgery would improve the prognosis of the patients in foreign literature. CONCLUSION: It's crucial to make early diagnosis of the toxic megacolon in the patients suffered from UC. The right choice and timing to perform urgent surgery or selective surgery may improve their prognosis.