[Acute management of a high risk patient with megacolon in a primary and general care hospital--a plea for endoscopy in surgery].

This case demonstrates the importance for surgeons to use the endoscope. A multimorbid patient in nearly dying condition, with a megacolon due to a functional sigmastenosis could be successfully treated by endoscopic intervention. After the patients recompensation, an early elective sigmaresection could be performed. The opportunity of endoscopy, instead of operation helped the patient and improved quality of treatment also economically. Therefore, a plea ist made for more endoscopic education in general surgical training.