Intended for healthcare professionals

Preliminary Communications

Obstruction of Bowel due to Lesion in the Myenteric Plexus

Br Med J 1969; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5645.686 (Published 15 March 1969) Cite this as: Br Med J 1969;1:686
  1. N. H. Dyer,
  2. A. M. Dawson,
  3. B. F. Smith,
  4. I. P. Todd

    Abstract

    Two patients are described who were found to have a destructive lesion of the myenteric plexus. In one the upper small intestine was involved and the clinical picture was of recurrent pseudo-obstruction; in the other the lesion was in the distal colon and resulted in intractable constipation. The lesion cannot be demonstrated by conventional histological techniques, being seen only in silver preparations cut parallel to the bowel wall, and may have been overlooked in the past. The aetiology is unknown.