Megacolon in cats: Review of the current state of knowledge

Abstract

A review of the literature on the causes of the disease and the possibilities of conservative and surgical treatment was conducted. The authors set the goal of analyzing the algorithms of the procedure, including qualification for an appropriate treatment method, based on the current state of knowledge. An electronic database review, covering PubMed, CAB Abstracts and Google Scholar collections, was performed in October 2024. Data extracted included study participants, literature reviews, clinical case reports, outcome measurements and results of the above studies. Understanding the cause of disorders in defecation that may lead to the development of large colon syndrome is essential for selection of the correct treatment method. Pharmacological treatment of the initial stage of the disease produces good results, but the progressive nature of the disease may necessitate conversion to surgical treatment. Surgical treatment involves the removal of the obstruction to the passage of food content and, in the case of the idiopathic form, colectomy. Most publications on surgical treatment describe colectomy as the method of choice. This is due to the unsatisfactory effects of conservative treatment of the chronic form of the disease. It is estimated that 90% of cats after colectomy function well, and the risk of postoperative complications is on average 5%. Defecation normalizes within 6 to 12 weeks with a simultaneous increase in the frequency of defecation.