[Acute colonic pseudoobstruction following fixation of a pertrochanteric fracture].
Acute colonic pseudoobstruction, following traumatic injuries, is a rare diagnosis. Nevertheless it is life threatening, if it is not recognized and treated promptly. We report one case of this so-called Ogilvie's syndrome, which followed fixation of a trochanteric fracture by intramedullary nailing within 2 days. Due to massive acute colonic distension, the patient suffered from respiratory failure. We excluded other intestinal diseases by CT scanning. After conservative colonic decompression, he recovered after 2 days in the intensive care unit. We describe a variable treatment depending on the severity of the colonic atony. Knowledge of Ogilvie's syndrome, or acute colonic pseudoobstruction, is a must for trauma surgeons, since it can occur within a few hours and can lead to dramatic situations.
Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Siegmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn. olwebo@gmx.de
O
O
Weber
C
C
Burger
R
R
Fremerey
P
P
Vetter
A
A
Richter
B W
BW
Wippermann
D000208:Acute Disease; D003112:Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed