Dolichocolon in low-birth-weight infants in 7 cases

Dolichocolon is a congenital malformation characterized by an abnormally long and tortuous colon. It is a rather rare pathology, the lesion mechanism of which is not clear. The sigmoid is considered the most commonly affected part.
Some authors believe that the disease is congenital, resulting from an impairment of the autonomous intestinal nervous mechanism, others believe that it is acquired secondary to constipation or dietary or endocrine deficiencies.
The clinical picture is marked by the installation of a classic triad: chronic constipation, generalized abdominal distension, and abdominal pain.
With the advent of X-rays and the barium enema, these abnormalities are easily recognized. An unprepared abdomen may show aerocolia with the presence of fecal impaction.  A barium enema, is usually sufficient to conclusively confirm the abnormality.
Many patients require only symptomatic treatment of constipation. Surgical treatment is reserved for special cases.
Our work, concerns patients hospitalized at the national reference center in neonatology at the children's hospital of rabat during the year 2021-2022. The study concerns seven cases who were hospitalized at day 1 of life for respiratory distress and in whom the diagnosis of dolichocolon was made after the observation of the clinical picture of this pathology.