PLATE AXR-TOXIC-MEGA · 1 SOURCE FILE

Toxic megacolon

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Toxic megacolon

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Source description identifies an abdominal X-ray of toxic megacolon in ulcerative colitis; diameter over 6 cm and loss of haustra remain unconfirmed.

Hellerhoff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · inherited_catalog_not_refetched

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01 / WHAT MATTERS ON THE EXAM

Toxic megacolon is nonobstructive colonic dilation with systemic toxicity. Avoid full colonoscopy and antimotility drugs; obtain urgent surgical assessment and cause-specific treatment. In acute severe ulcerative colitis, toxic megacolon itself is an indication for colectomy.

02 / WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Toxic megacolon: colon >6 cm with loss of haustra

03 / WATCH OUT FOR

Toxic megacolon warrants urgent surgical assessment; corticosteroids may treat IBD-associated inflammation, while C. difficile-associated disease requires targeted antibiotics rather than steroids alone.

04 / STUDY IT IN thecodexes.com SYSTEM

↗MyCodexesGI-IBD-02 · linked topic

RIBD treatment ladders & surgical indicationsPage anchor pending

Q-Book connections 2

Block 3 · Q19B03-022
Practice Exam 1 · Q211E2-146

Other exam connections 1

Step 1 · Inflammatory bowel disease — Crohn vs ulcerative colitis ↗

FFlashcard libraryBrowse; card-specific link unassigned

Clinical references