Síndrome de Ogilvie: manejo actual a propósito de un caso

Objetivo: Dar a conocer las últimas recomendaciones para la sospecha, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento médico y quirúrgico del síndrome de Ogilvie. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, observacional; en formato de caso clínico y revisión de la literatura actual, a través de PubMed, Scielo y otros motores de búsqueda de artículos científicos. Discusión y Conclusiones: La seudoobstrucción colónica aguda o síndrome de Ogilvie consiste en un íleo adinámico severo y dilatación masiva de asas del colon en ausencia de obstrucción mecánica. Se presenta, principalmente, en pacientes postquirúrgicos o severamente enfermos. Tienen riesgo de perforación aproximado del 3% y una mortalidad del 50%, la mayoría de los pacientes responden al manejo médico conservador. La descompresión colonoscópica puede ser necesaria en pacientes que no responden al tratamiento médico de soporte y a la descompresión farmacológica con neostigmina. Distintos grados de isquemia y/o perforación colónica obligan la reso-lución quirúrgica urgente en algunos casos, lo que define la morbimortalidad. Es importante la sospecha clínica de este síndrome para evitar complicaciones posiblemente fatales.

Objective: To present the latest recommendations for the suspicion, diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of Ogilvie syndrome. Materials and methods: Descriptive, retrospective, observational study; in clinical case format and review of the current literature, through PubMed, Scielo and other search engines for scientific articles Discussion and Conclusions: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction or Ogilvie syndrome consists of a severe adynamic ileus and massive dilatation of the colonic loops in the absence of mechanical obstruction. It occurs in post-surgical or severely ill patients. They have a risk of perforation of approximately 3% and a mortality of 50%, most patients respond to conservative medical management. Colonoscopic decompression may be necessary in patients who do not respond to supportive medical treatment and drug decompression with neostigmine. Different degrees of colonic ischemia and / or perforation require urgent surgical resolution in some cases, which defines morbidity and mortality. Clinical suspicion of this syndrome is important to avoid possibly fatal complications.

Síndrome de Ogilvie asociado a hospitalización prolongada en un paciente con evento vascular cerebral isquémico. Reporte de un caso / Ogilvie Syndrome Associated with Prolonged Hospitalization in a Patient with an Ischemic Cerebrovascular Event. Case Report

Resumen Introducción: El síndrome de Ogilvie o seudoobstrucción colónica aguda es la dilatación aguda del colon, sin evidencia de obstrucción mecánica, y se atribuye a un desbalance autonómico de la inervación motora del colon. Es común en pacientes hospitalizados con comorbilidades importantes. Su manejo es escalonado, reservando el manejo quirúrgico para los casos refractarios al manejo médico inicial o con presencia de complicaciones como perforación y datos de sepsis. Caso clínico: Presentamos el caso de un paciente del sexo masculino, de 69 años de edad, quien acudió al servicio de urgencias en el contexto de evento vascular cerebral, quien cursó con intubación prolongada, iniciado a los 17 días de su ingreso, con distensión abdominal refractaria a manejo médico, con dilatación colónica importante, corroborada por tomografía de abdomen, por lo que se decidió manejo quirúrgico. Conclusiones: Es importante hacer diagnóstico precoz de este síndrome para evitar complicaciones propias de la enfermedad, así como de la cirugía. Importante hacer diagnóstico con otras causas de oclusión y tener un alto índice de sospecha al tratarse de un diagnóstico de exclusión.

Abstract Introduction: Ogilvie's syndrome or acute colonic pseudo-obstruction is the acute dilation of the colon without evidence of mechanical obstruction and is attributed to an autonomic imbalance of motor innervation of the colon. It is common in hospitalized patients with significant comorbidities. Its management is staggered, reserving surgical management for cases refractory to initial medical management or with the presence of complications such as perforation and sepsis data. Case report: We present the case of a 69-year-old male patient who went to the emergency service in the context of a cerebral vascular event. He underwent prolonged intubation, which began 17 days after his admission with abdominal distention refractory to medical management, with significant colonic dilation corroborated by abdominal tomography, so it was decided to manage it surgically. Conclusions: It is important to make an early diagnosis of this syndrome to avoid complications of the disease, as well as surgery. It is important to make a differential diagnosis with other causes of occlusion and have a high index of suspicion since it is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Colonic Pseudo-obstruction With Transition Zone: A Peculiar Eastern Severe Dysmotility

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies from Korea have described chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) patients with transition zone (TZ) in the colon. In this study, we evaluated the pathological characteristics and their association with long-term outcomes in Korean colonic pseudo-obstruction (CPO) patients with TZ. METHODS: We enrolled 39 CPO patients who were refractory to medical treatment and underwent colectomy between November 1989 and April 2016 (median age at symptoms onset: 45 [interquartile range, 29–57] years, males 46.2%). The TZ was defined as a colonic segment connecting a proximally dilated and distally non-dilated segment. Detailed pathologic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Among the 39 patients, 37 (94.9%) presented with TZ and 2 (5.1%) showed no definitive TZ. Median ganglion cell density in the TZ adjusted for the colonic circumference was significantly decreased compared to that in proximal dilated and distal non-dilated segments in TZ (+) patients (9.2 vs 254.3 and 150.5, P < 0.001). Among the TZ (+) patients, 6 showed additional pathologic findings including eosinophilic ganglionitis (n = 2), ulcers with combined cytomegalovirus infection (n = 2), diffuse ischemic changes (n = 1), and heterotropic myenteric plexus (n = 1). During follow-up (median, 61 months), 32 (82.1%) TZ (+) patients recovered without symptom recurrence after surgery. The presence of pathological features other than hypoganglionosis was an independent predictor of symptom recurrence after surgery (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoganglionosis can be identified in the TZ of most Korean CPO patients. Detection of other pathological features in addition to TZ-associated hypoganglionosis was associated with poor post-operative outcomes.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after cesarean section: a retrospective analysis of 11 cases / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To summary the risk factors,clinical characteristics and treatment of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) after cesarean section(CS).Methods The case group enrolled 11 patients who were diagnosed with ACPO after cesarean section in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2006 to January 2018.Another 55 patients without ACPO after CS,performed within two weeks' difference from the case group,were randomly selected as the control group.Clinical data of all subjects were analyzed retrospectively.Potential clinical risk factors were statistically analyzed.T test,Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results In the case group,the abdominal distension presented on 2 d (n=1),3 d (n=7),4 d (n=2) and 17 d (n=1) respectively after CS,and all cases experienced abdominal pain and nausea.Vomiting was reported in some cases.Plain abdominal X-ray images revealed pneumocolon with colon pouch.The maximum diameter of cecum was 6 to 12 cm.Air-liquid levels were observed in two patients.All patients underwent fasting,gastrointestinal decompression,intravenous fluid infusion,correction of electrolyte imbalance,hypertonic saline enema and prophylactic antibiotic treatment.The disease condition lasted two to six days in these patients.Conservative treatment was successful in eight patients and failed in the other three who later went for operations.The maximum cecal diameters in the three patients who underwent surgery were all ≥ 9 cm,among whom one case progressed quickly and laparotomy was tempted to rule out mechanical intestinal obstruction.In this case,the pressure was successfully reduced by placing a thoracic catheter through the anus after the failure of intestinal puncture trying to release the gases.One patient underwent colostomy due to positive signs of peritoneal irritation after a failure of four-day conservative treatment.One patient suffered a relapse after having been treated conservatively for five days,and then underwent surgeries of resection of ileocecum,distal closure of the colon ascendens plus terminal ileostomy due to intestinal perforation.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher postoperative leukocyte count (OR=1.38,95％CI:1.12-1.71,P=0.003) and postoperative body temperature ＞38 ℃ (OR=6.47,95％CI:1.06-39.61,P=0.044) were the risk factors for ACPO after CS.Conclusions Elevated leukocyte count and body temperature ＞38 ℃ were two high-risk factors for ACPO after CS.ACPO is characterized by acute onset,and the first choice is conservative management.Active surgical treatment would be required if conservative treatment fails,especially when the maximum diameter of the cecum is ≥ 9 cm,which may increase the incidence of intestinal necrosis or perforation.

Cecostomía endoscópica percutánea, una terapia eficaz en el síndrome de Ogilvie: relato de caso y revisión bibliográfica / Percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy, effective therapy for the treatment of Ogilvie syndrome: case and literature review

Ogilvie syndrome, or Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (ACPO) is characterized by colonic distension in the absence of mechanical obstruction. In general, it evolves favorably following a conservative treatment, and surgical procedures are not necessary6. We describe a case of ACPO with evolution of two days, in a 79-year old male patient, with asthma, type 2 diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension and policystic kidneys. After failure of conservative treatment based on support measures and neostigmine, percutaneous endoscopic support cecostomy, using a gastrostomy tube. The technique and its early execution were chosen considering that it was easy to be implemented, low cost and need for immediate colonic decompression due to high risk of ischemia and perforation of the colon, associated to a rapid clinical deterioration of the patient

El síndrome de Ogilvie o Pseudoobstrucción colónica aguda (ACPO) se caracteriza por la distensión del colon en ausencia de obstrucción mecánica. En general, el tratamiento conservador es favorable, no siendo necesaria una intervención quirúrgica. Describimos el caso de una ACPO con dos días de evolución, en paciente masculino de 79 años, asmático, portador de diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión arterial sistémica y riñones poliquísticos. Después del fracaso del tratamiento conservador con medidas de soporte y neostigmina, se optó por la realización de cecostomía endoscópica percutánea de protección, utilizando una sonda de gastrostomía. La elección de la técnica y su realización precoz se dio teniendo en vista su facilidad de ejecución, su bajo costo y la necesidad de descompresión colónica inmediata por el elevado riesgo de isquemia y perforación del colon, asociado al rápido empeoramiento clínico del paciente.

Seudoobstrucción colónica aguda o síndrome de Ogilvie en una anciana / Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction or Ogilvie syndrome in an old woman

La seudoobstrucción colónica aguda o síndrome de Ogilvie es una afección en la cual hay apariencia clínica e imagenológica de obstrucción intestinal sin bloqueo mecánico. Se describe el caso clínico de una anciana de 65 años de edad, quien sufría esta condición clínica, por lo cual fue atendida en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital N´Gola Kimbanda, provincia Namibe en Angola e intervenida quirúrgicamente. La paciente evolucionó favorablemente y egresó sin dificultad

The acute colonic pseudo-obstruction or Ogilvie syndrome is a disorder in which there is a clinical and imagenologic appearance of intestinal obstruction without mechanic blockade. The case report of a 65 years old woman who suffered from this clinical condition is described, reason why she was assisted and surgically intervened in the Surgery Service of N´Gola Kimbanda Hospital, Namibe province in Angola. The patient had a favorable clinical course and she was discharged without difficulty

Pseudoobstrucción aguda del colon o síndrome de Ogilvie y evisceración / Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction or Ogilvie syndrome and evisceration

La pseudoobstrucción aguda del colon, también conocida como síndrome de Ogilvie, consiste en una dilatación aguda masiva del colon con una combinación de síntomas y signos de obstrucción colónica en ausencia de obstrucción mecánica. Aunque es una entidad clínica bien conocida, en muchos aspectos, aun es escasamente comprendida y continúa siendo un reto para clínicos y cirujanos. Su temprano reconocimiento y tratamiento apropiados son imprescindibles para minimizar la morbilidad y la mortalidad. Se presenta el caso de una paciente que desarrolló un cuadro clínico de evisceración poslaparotómica causada por la dilatación aguda masiva del colon de un síndrome de Ogilvie. Recibió tratamiento quirúrgico urgente y su recuperación fue satisfactoria. El objetivo de este trabajo es publicar una forma de presentación poco frecuente del síndrome de Ogilvie y la revisión de la literatura especializada(AU)

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, also known as Ogilvie's syndrome, refers to an acute massive colonic dilatation with combined symptoms and signs of colonic obstruction in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Although it is a well-known clinical entity, in many aspects it remains poorly understood and continues to challenge physicians and surgeons alike. Early recognition and appropriate management are critical to minimize morbidity and mortality. The case is presented of a female patient bearer of a post laparotomic evisceration caused by an acute massive colonic dilatation of Ogilvie's syndrome, who was submitted to urgent surgical treatment with full recovery. This paper is aimed at presenting an unusual way of onset of Ogilvie's syndromeand the review of the specialized literature(AU)

Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) as a Complication of Herpes Zoster / 대한내과학회지

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) is a very rare complication of herpes zoster. A 62-year-old female visited our hospital due to abdominal pain. Skin lesions of herpes zoster had developed after the patient experienced symptoms of colonic obstruction. The symptoms of colonic obstruction resulted in more suffering for the patient than did those of herpes zoster. In cases reported previously in Korea, these symptoms were improved by endoscopic colonic decompression. However, the symptoms of this patient were improved by conservative treatment only, which included fasting and intravenous fluid replacement. Furthermore, this case differs from previous cases in terms of the difficulty of diagnosis due to the delayed appearance of the skin lesions. We present herein the first case in Korea of Ogilvie's syndrome as a complication of herpes zoster, which was improved by conservative treatment. Clinicians should be aware of the various unusual complications of herpes zoster.

Effective and Safe Use of Neostigmine in Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Colonic Pseudo-obstruction after Cardiac Surgery / 대한소화기학회지

Neostigmine can successfully decompress patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) who are unresponsive to conservative therapy. However, neostigmine is contraindicated in renal failure, so it is underused in ACPO patients with renal failure who would be otherwise appropriate candidates. We described the first successfully treated case of acute kidney injury (AKI) with neostigmine in a patient with ACPO. A 72-year-old man who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft surgery 11 days prior presented to the emergency room with abdominal distension, peripheral edema, and dyspnea on exertion. Plain abdominal radiographs and abdomen computed tomography scan showed diffuse colonic dilatation without obstruction. Serum creatinine level was increased five-fold over baseline. We diagnosed the patient as ACPO with AKI. With conservative treatment, renal function failed to improve because the ACPO was not corrected. Administration of neostigmine rapidly resolved ACPO and renal function, avoiding more invasive procedures such as colonoscopic decompression and hemodialysis. Neostigmine appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for ACPO patients with renal failure. Prospective large-scale studies should be carried out to determine the safety and efficacy of neostigmine in ACPO patients with renal failure.

A Case of Colonic Pseudoobstruction Related to Bacterial Overgrowth Due to a Sigmoidocecal Fistula / 대한소화기학회지

Colocolic fistulas are usually a complication of an inflammatory or neoplastic process. Development of these abnormal bowel communications may lead to bacterial overgrowth. We report on a 71-year-old man with a one-year history of recurrent abdominal distension and irregular bowel habits. Abdominal X-rays and computed tomography showed multiple air-fluid levels and loops of distended bowel without evidence of mechanical obstruction or diverticulitis. Colonoscopy showed a fistulous tract between the sigmoid colon and cecum. Results of a lactulose breath test showed high fasting breath CH4 levels, which were thought to be the result of intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The patient was diagnosed with a colonic pseudo-obstruction associated with bacterial overgrowth due to a sigmoidocecal fistula. We recommended surgical correction of the sigmoidocecal fistula; however, the patient requested medical treatment. After antibiotic therapy, the patient still had mild symptoms but no acute exacerbations.

The Clinical Characteristics of Colonic Pseudo-obstruction and the Factors Associated with Medical Treatment Response: A Study Based on a Multicenter Database in Korea

Colonic pseudo-obstruction (CPO) is defined as marked colonic distension in the absence of mechanical obstruction. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of CPO and the factors associated with the response to medical treatment by using a multicenter database in Korea. CPO was diagnosed as colonic dilatation without mechanical obstruction by using radiologic and/or endoscopic examinations. Acute CPO occurring in the postoperative period in surgical patients or as a response to an acute illness was excluded. CPO cases were identified in 15 tertiary referral hospitals between 2000 and 2011. The patients' data were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. In total, 104 patients (53 men; mean age at diagnosis, 47 yr) were identified. Seventy-seven of 104 patients (74%) showed a transition zone on abdominal computed tomography. Sixty of 104 patients (58%) showed poor responses to medical treatment and underwent surgery at the mean follow-up of 7.4 months (0.5-61 months). Younger age at the time of diagnosis, abdominal distension as a chief complaint, and greater cecal diameter were independently associated with the poor responses to medical treatment. These may be risk factors for a poor response to medical treatment.

A Case of Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction Combined with Rhabdomyolysis induced by Severe Hypokalemia / 대한내과학회지

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) or Ogilvie's syndrome is a rare disorder of intestinal motility characterized by massive colonic dilatation without mechanical obstruction. We report a case of ACPO combined with rhabdomyolysis induced by severe hypokalemia. A 78-year-old male with a 10-year history of hypertension presented with abdominal pain and distension for 2 days. The laboratory findings showed hypokalemia with markedly elevated serum creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin levels. A plain abdominal x-ray revealed a markedly distended ascending and transverse colon with a cut-off sign at the descending colon. Mechanical obstruction of the intestine was excluded by computed tomography and colonoscopy. He was initially treated with supportive therapy, including insertion of a rectal tube and intravenous fluids with potassium replacement. However, the ACPO persisted, and neostigmine was administered in two separate 2.0-mg intravenous injections, 24 hours apart. Subsequently, the abdominal pain and colonic distension were relieved.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction following allogeneic stem cell transplantation successfully treated by neostigmine

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), also known as Ogilvie's syndrome, is a rare clinical syndrome of massive large bowel dilatation without mechanical obstruction, which may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment focuses on decompressing a severely dilated colon. The proposed theory that this severe ileus results from an imbalance in the autonomous regulation of colonic movement supports the rationale for using neostigmine, a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in patients who failed conservative care. Although gastrointestinal complications are frequent following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), the incidence of ACPO in a transplant setting is unknown and, if not vigilant, this adynamic ileus can be underestimated. We describe the case of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing non-myeloablative allogeneic SCT from a partially human leukocyte antigen-mismatched sibling donor, and whose clinical course was complicated by ACPO in the early post-engraftment period. The ileus was not associated with gut graft-versus-host disease or infectious colitis. After 3 days of conservative care, intravenous neostigmine (2 mg/day) was administered for 3 consecutive days. Symptoms and radiologic findings began to improve 72 hours after the initial injection of neostigmine, and complete response without any associated complications was achieved within a week. Thus, neostigmine can be a safe medical therapy with successful outcome for patients who develop ACPO following allogeneic SCT.

A Rare Case of Ogilvie Syndrome Associated with Herpes Zoster

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome) associated with herpes zoster is extremely rare, and few cases have been reported. An 81-year-old woman diagnosed with herpes zoster was referred for accompanying colonic ileus. The diameter of the cecum was 7 cm and a computed tomographic scan showed no definite obstructive cause. Because the patient showed minimal improvement with conservative treatment, endoscopic colonic decompression was performed successfully. Previous studies revealed that the treatment of Ogilvie syndrome associated with herpes zoster does not differ from that of other conditions, and the role of the varicella-zoster virus in this syndrome is unclear. Here, we present the first case of Ogilvie syndrome associated with herpes zoster in Korea, which was improved by endoscopic colonic decompression.

A Case of Acquired Zonal Aganglionosis in Adult

A chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare disorder and a severe digestive syndrome. It is characterized by deranged gut propulsive motility that resembles a mechanical obstruction, but no obstructive process is present. An intestinal pseudo-obstruction may be classified as acute or chronic; the chronic form may also be classified as idiopathic or secondary to a variety of diseases. Treatment of intestinal pseudo-obstruction involves nutritional, pharmacological, and surgical therapies. Surgery should be limited to patients who are refractory to medical therapy and show a deteriorating course. Despite available medical and surgical interventions, the outcome remains poor. Here, we describe a case of a 54-year-old female with chronic constipation and abdominal distension, who was subsequently found to have segmental aganglionosis. The patient was treated with a subtotal colectomy and ileosigmoidostomy without sequelae.

Application of anterograde tubular ileal fistula in Ⅰ stage anastomosis of colon cancer with acute obstruction / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the feasibility of application of anterograde tubular ileal fistula in Ⅰ stage anastomosis of colon cancer with acute obstruction. Method Eighty patients of colon cancer with acute obstruction who treated with anterograde tubular ileal fistula in Ⅰ stage anastomosis were analyzed restropectively. Result Clinical observation showed that 80 patients were cured and discharged,no one did occur anastomotic leakage, abdominal abscess,and other serious complications. Conclusion If correctly graspe the timing of operation for colon cancer with acute obstruction,irrigation methods,good perioperative management,select the anterograde tubular ileal fistula, Ⅰ stage resection and anastomosis is safe and feasible.

Neostigmine for the treatment of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) in pediatric hematologic malignancies / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) refers to dilatation of the colon and decreased bowel motility without evidence of mechanical obstruction. Neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has been used in patients in whom supportive therapy failed to resolve ACPO. Here, we report the results of administering neostigmine to treat ACPO in children with hematologic malignancies. METHODS: Between September 2005 and December 2009, 10 patients (8 male and 2 female) were diagnosed with ACPO at the Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Korea. Diagnosis of ACPO was based on typical clinical features as well as colonic dilatation found on abdominal CT imaging. Neostigmine was administered subcutaneously at a dosage of 0.01 mg/kg/dose (maximum 0.5 mg) twice daily for a maximum of 5 total doses. ACPO was determined to be responsive to neostigmine if the patient showed both stool passage and improvement of clinical symptoms. RESULTS: The study group included 8 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, 1 patient with malignant lymphoma, and 1 patient with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. The median age at ACPO diagnosis was 8.5 years (range, 3-14). Overall, 8 patients (80%) showed therapeutic response to neostigmine at a median of 29 hours after the initial administration (range, 1-70). Two patients (20%) showed side effects of grade 2 or above, but none complained of cardiovascular symptoms that required treatment. CONCLUSION: In this study, ACPO was diagnosed most often in late-childhood ALL patients. Subcutaneous neostigmine can be used to effectively treat ACPO diagnosed in children with hematologic malignancies without major cardiovascular complications.

Síndrome de Ogilvie poshisterectomía: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura(AU) / Ogilvie's syndrome post hysterectomy: a case report and literature review

Objetivo: presentar el estudio y el tratamiento que se le realizó a una mujer embarazada que presentó Síndrome de Ogilvie (SO) como complicación de una histerectomía obstétrica, así como describir la epidemiología,lafisiopatología,loshallazgosclínicos después de los procedimientos gineco-obstétricos y el tratamiento de esta patología mediante una revisión de la literatura. Presentación del caso: mujer de 28 años de edad con embarazo de 38 semanas de gestación quien después de parto vaginal eutócico sufrió atonía uterina. Debido a la falta de mejoría con el manejo médico, se le realizó una histerectomía abdominal subtotal, presentando picos febriles, intolerancia a la vía oral, taquicardia, distensión e hipertimpanismo abdominal con dolor a la palpación superficial y profunda en hemiabdomen derecho y peristaltismo disminuido durante el posoperatorio. La radiografía de abdomen evidenció un cuadro obstructivo con origen probable a nivel del intestino delgado, por lo que se le practicó una laparotomía exploratoria donde se le encontró peritonitis fecal y perforación colónica a nivel de la válvula ileocecal, sin evidencia de obstrucción mecánica. Discusión: el SO se caracteriza por la dilatación masiva y progresiva del colon en ausencia de una obstrucción mecánica. Se desarrolla principalmente en pacientes hospitalizadas con graves condiciones médico-quirúrgicas, pero también se presenta frecuentemente después de procedimientos gineco-obstétricos. Debido a que este síndrome se ha visto asociado con una alta morbimortalidad, es necesario que el gineco-obstetra lo tenga en cuenta como diagnóstico diferencial y esté atento a su presentación como complicación de cirugías obstétricas o ginecológicas.

Objective: presenting the workup and management of a pregnant woman who presented Ogilvie's syndrome as a complication of an obstetric hysterectomy and describing the epidemiology, physiopathology and clinical findings following gynecobstetric procedure and treatment of this pathology by means of a literature review. Case report: the case of a 28-year-old woman is presented; the patient presented uterine atony following normal vaginal delivery after 38 weeks' pregnancy. A subtotal abdominal hysterectomy was made due to lack of improvement with medical management. The patient presented fever, intolerance to oral route, tachycardia, distended and hypertympanic abdomen, pain in response to surface and deep palpation of the right hemi-abdomen and decreased peristalsis during postoperative period. The abdominal radiograph revealed obstruction of the small intestine; exploratory laparotomy was thus carried out, showing foetal peritonitis and perforation of the colon at the ileocecal valve without evidence of mechanical obstruction. Discussion: Ogilvie's syndrome is characterised by massive and progressive dilatation of the colon in the absence of small bowel obstruction. The syndrome mainly develops in hospitalised patients suffering from severe medical conditions; nonetheless, it also occurs after gynecobstetric procedures. Because this syndrome is associated with high rates of morbidity andmortality,thegynecobstetricianmustrecognise this syndrome as being a possible complication of gynecobstetric procedure.

Constipação intestinal em terapia intensiva / Intestinal constipation in intensive care units

A constipação intestinal é uma complicação comumente identificada entre pacientes graves. Sua incidência é bastante variável devido à carência de uma definição aplicável a estes pacientes. Além das consequências já conhecidas da constipação, nos últimos anos tem-se percebido que essa complicação também pode estar relacionada ao pior prognóstico de pacientes críticos. Ao longo desta revisão procurou-se descrever as principais evidências científicas disponíveis mostrando ser a constipação um marcador prognóstico e uma das representações clínicas da disfunção intestinal, além da possibilidade de interferir no prognóstico com o tratamento. Revisou-se também a síndrome de Ogilvie, importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade nas unidades de terapia intensiva. Conclui-se, por todo o exposto, ser necessária mais atenção a esse distúrbio nas unidades de terapia intensiva, com elaboração de protocolos de diagnóstico e manejo em pacientes graves.

Constipation is a common complication identified among critically ill patients. Its incidence is highly variable due to lack of definition of such patients. Besides the already known consequences of constipation, in recent years it was observed that this complication may also be related to worse prognosis of critically ill patients. This review endeavors to describe the main available scientific evidence showing that constipation is a prognostic marker and a clinical representation of intestinal dysfunction, in addition to eventually interfering in the prognosis with treatment. Ogilvie syndrome, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units was also reviewed. Considering the above cases it was concluded that more attention to this disorder is required in intensive care units as well as development of protocols for diagnosis and management of critically ill patients.

A Case of Chronic Colonic Pseudo-obstruction with Visceral Myopathy

Chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction is a rare disease that results in colorectal dilatation without any obstructing lesions. Colonic dilatation does not usually cause colonic wall thickening and colonic visceral myopathy with muscular hypertrophy has not been reported in Korea. A 31-year-old female patient was transferred for treatment of refractory constipation accompanied by megacolon. She had suffered from recurrent attacks of severe abdominal pain with the sensation of a mass in the left lower quadrant. An abdominal CT revealed a large luminal dilatation of the sigmoid colon where massive stool was impacted. There was no obstructing lesion or luminal dilatation of the rectum. To relieve her refractory symptoms, a total colectomy with an ileorectal anastomosis was performed. Pathologic examination of the sigmoid colon revealed that the muscle layers were dysplastic and hypertrophied, and the innervations into the muscle fibers were markedly decreased. She was discharged without any intra-abdominal symptoms.