intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Etiology

• abnormal gastrointestinal (GI) motility
  • opiates
• smooth muscle diseases
  • amyloidosis
  • mitochondrial myopathy
  • muscular dystrophy
• connective tissue disease
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • scleroderma
• neurologic disorders
  • brainstem tumor
  • dysautonomia
  • familial visceral neuropathy
  • neurofibromatosis
  • Parkinson's disease
• systemic disorders
  • diabetes mellitus (rare)
  • hypothyroidism
• familial syndromes

Epidemiology

• increased frequency in developmentally disabled patients

Clinical manifestations

• constipation
• abdominal distension
• abdominal pain
• nausea, sometimes vomiting

Radiology

• dilated small intestine
• colon may or may not be dilated

Complications

• intestinal perforation
  • cecal diameter of > 10 cm is high suscepitble to perforation

Differential diagnosis

• constipation
• ileus
• intestinal obstruction

Management

• correct electrolyte disturbances, especially hypokalemia
• nasogastric suction may help decompress the colon
• turning patient from backside to stomach may passively move air
• colonoscopy may successfully decompress colon
• colectomy

More general terms

• intestinal disease

More specific terms

• chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIIP, CIPO)

Additional terms

• constipation; dyschezia
• ileus

Patient information

intestinal pseudo-obstruction patient information