title: Intestinal pseudo-obstruction: an uncommon condition with heterogeneous etiology and unpredictable outcome.
abstract: Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) either acute or chronic is a condition including features of intestinal ileus in absence of mechanical obstruction. Our paper presents such a rare case of idiopathic IPO in a 53-year-old male patient with recurrent episodes of pseudo-obstruction, which were successfully resolved by anticholinesterase agents, motilin agonists or colonic decompression. However, the patient finally underwent total colectomy. Huge colonic dilatation was identified intraoperatorily, while histology showed a neuropathic variant of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Etiologic mechanisms and current therapeutic methods are reviewed in this paper, which concludes that IPO is a condition in which conservative treatment usually fails. Total colectomy with ileoanal pouch may be the only solution in these situations.
authors.affiliation: Filantropia University Hospital from Craiova, Department of Internal Medicine 2, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Craiova 200136, Romania. efg@usa.net
authors.forename: Eugen Florin
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Georgescu
authors.forename: Ion
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vasile
authors.forename: Reanina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ionescu
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome