Abstract
Chagas' disease, a chronic parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is one of the endemic diseases in Central and South America. In Bolivia its seroprevalence is very high and the most common digestive manifestation of chronic Chagas' disease is megacolon.
A new protocol for the surgical treatment of Chagasic megacolon has been started in Santa Cruz General Hospital. It consists of a peri-operative management, a choice of operative technique and a long term follow-up.
From July 1989 to August 1992, among 46 Chagasic seropositive megacolons, 37 definitive operations of colorectal resection and anastomosis were perfomed. Although five cases developed early postoperative complications, there were no deaths in the group which had definitive operations.
The purpose of this study is to establish a standard surgical management for Chagasic megacolon in Bolivia.
