Comparative morphometric characteristics of the dolichocolon decompensated stage

Abstract

Introduction. Chronic constipation is one of the most actual problems in modern coloproctology and found in 14-16% of developed countries population. The causes of chronic constipation vary widely from functional to organic. The latter include dolichocolon, different variants of which occur in 16% cases.Aim. To give a morphological and quantitative characteristic of the decompensated stage of dolichocolon based on the morphogenesis of changes in comparison with the histologically normal colon.Material and Methods. Colon tissue samples from 16 people were used and divided into two groups. The first, control group, included 8 sectional cases of a morphologically normal colon wall. The second, the study group, was represented by surgical material from 8 patients with dolichocolon decompensated stage. Observation groups were comparable by sex and age.Results. In average, in patients with the decompensated dolichocolon stage, in comparison with the control group, statistically significantly (p ˂ 0.05), the thickness of the mucous and muscular membranes decreases by 1.07 and 2.26 times, respectively. The thickness of the submucosa increases by 1.17 times. However, the maximum and minimum values of this parameter change only by 1.35 times, while in the control group – by 7.21 times, as a consequence of the development of insufficiency of the evacuation-motor function of the colon which indicates the maximum smoothness of the colon wall, and is a consequence of its functional insufficiency. The specific proportion of neuro plexuses in the muscular membrane is 1.45 times higher than in the control group. However, the number of nerve cells decreases by 2.98 times, as a result of the development of insufficiency in the evacuation-motor function of the colon. The average area of lymphatic follicles decreases by 1.49 times, and secondary follicles disappear altogether, meaning the depletion of the compensatory-adaptive reactions of the lymphoid apparatus.Conclusion. Morphological and morphometric signs of irreversible changes, such as dystrophy, atrophy and sclerosis of all structural elements of the thick wall in the stage of decompensated dolichocolon, suggest surgical treatment, as well as prevention of the development of decompensation of the general condition of patients.