title: Intestinal pseudo-obstruction--a rare condition with heterogeneous etiology and unpredictable outcome. A case report.
abstract: Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO), either acute or chronic, is a condition including features of intestinal ileus in the absence of mechanical obstruction. We present such a rare case of idiopathic IPO in a 53-year old male patient in whom recurrent episodes of pseudo-obstruction were successfully resolved by anticholinesterase agents, motilin agonists or colonic decompression. However, subsequently total colectomy was required. Huge colonic dilatation was identified intraoperatively, while histology evidenced a neuropathic variant of chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction. IPO is a condition in which conservative treatment usually fails. Total colectomy with ileoanal pouch was the solution in our patient.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Filantropia Hospital, Str. Constantin Brancusi, nr. 3, 200136 Craiova, 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: Ana Claudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Georgescu
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy; D006801:Humans; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged