PROBLEMS IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL MEGACOLON

The problems relating to the etiology and the proper treatment of congenital megacolon remain largely unsolved, although this uncommon condition has challenged the medical profession since Hirschsprung's report over fifty years ago. The literature on this subject is confusing and difficult to evaluate. Many articles consist in a report of a single case, the true nature of which is often doubtful, and those treated are too frequently followed only a few months. In this communication an attempt is made to correlate our experience in the management of cases of congenital megacolon with the results of treatment of this disease in the hands of others. No attempt has been made to include reports of single cases, for any conclusions, drawn from these might be misleading. The results in 11 patients on whom left lumbar sympathectomy was performed by the surgical staff at Tulane University School of Medicine and the Ochsner Clinic