Intestinal pseudo-obstruction: an uncommon condition with heterogeneous etiology and unpredictable outcome.
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.
Georgescu
Eugen Florin
EF
Filantropia University Hospital from Craiova, Department of Internal Medicine 2, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Craiova 200136, Romania. efg@usa.net
Vasile
Ion
I
Ionescu
Reanina
R
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