| Abstract: | The condition of acute necrotising colitis is described after experience of 10 cases. This entity is characterised by sudden onset of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhæa, progressing rapidly to produce grave illness with general peritonitis and shock. The pathology is that of intense inflammation of the colonic wall affecting the mucosa first, and leading to the appearance of gangrenous patches. The histological changes include necrosis of the gut wall with inflammatory cell collections and the presence of clostridium-like organisms in the intestinal wall. Periportal infiltrations of inflammatory cells have been noted in the liver. The ætiological factors may include the action of clostridial toxins and perhaps the ingestion of alkali. The disease is highly lethal. |
