title: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after caesarean section.
abstract: A 32-year-old patient developed pseudo-obstruction of the large bowel following elective caesarean section. The association of this rare postoperative complication with anaesthesia is discussed. Pseudo-obstruction of the large bowel (Ogilvie's Syndrome), is characterised by an adynamic mechanically unobstructed bowel which may progress to marked dilatation of the caecum. The reported mortality varies from 14-30% rising to 40-50% if there is caecal perforation. The underlying mechanism is thought to be an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McClure