Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction post-cesarean section is not a benign entity: A case series and review of the literature.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is an infrequent occurrence after cesarean section. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the clinical course of ACPO in the obstetric setting is different to that seen in non-pregnant adult patients with ACPO secondary to alternative causes, such as systemic illnesses, the use of certain medications, and after non-abdominal surgery. The risk of progression to ischemia and perforation, as well as the need for emergency surgery, appears to be higher after cesarean section. Here we describe the clinical course of ACPO in four patients after cesarean section from our institution, followed by a review of the literature and a discussion of the important issues surrounding this condition in the postpartum time period. The findings from our cohort of patients and the reports from the medical literature support a hands-on combined approach from a group of specialists including obstetricians, surgeons, radiologists, and enterostomal therapists. Immediate imaging followed by regular observation is mandatory for any patient being managed conservatively. Early use of endoscopic decompression should be considered for patients who are not resolving with a conservative approach. Clinical signs of peritonism or radiological signs of ischemia or perforation in patients with ACPO mandate immediate surgical intervention. Appropriate postoperative care is necessary to deal with the complex physiological and psychological consequences of emergency surgery and potential stoma formation so soon after cesarean section.

Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Colonic Pseudo-obstruction (ACPO).

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute Colonic Pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a cause of large intestinal dilation and obstruction without any physical transition point. It remains difficult to diagnose and treat. We review the recent updates on diagnosis and management of ACPO. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent guidelines have posited that conservative management can be tried in most cases of ACPO, but that early decompression and surgery should be considered. Use of neostigmine is still a viable option but there is also promising data on pyridostigmine as well as prucalopride. Resolution of ACPO should be followed by daily use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to help prevent recurrence. ACPO warrants early and accurate diagnosis with exclusion of alternate causes of large bowel dilation. Conservative management can be attempted for 48-72 h in those with cecal diameters < 12 cm and without signs of peritonitis and perforation. Early escalation of management should be attempted with neostigmine followed by endoscopy and/or surgery as needed, given that longer periods of dilation are associated with worse outcomes. There is promising new evidence for use of pyridostigmine and prucalopride, but further trials are needed prior to incorporating them into regular use. Finally, studies are lacking regarding prevention of ACPO after initial resolution.

Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction.

CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old man with a history of chronic alcohol use, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypertension presented to the emergency department after a syncopal event. He was admitted to the medical intensive care unit for alcohol withdrawal, requiring intubation and sedation. On hospital day 7, abdominal x-ray image demonstrated a dilated cecum to 12 cm, transverse colon dilation to 7 cm, and decompressed distal colon ( Fig. 1 ). CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed dilation of the cecum and ascending and transverse colons ( Fig. 2 ). Colonoscopy showed no evidence of distal obstruction, but colonic distension persisted, and he subsequently underwent cecal decompression with an open "blow-hole" cecostomy fully matured at skin level via a small right lower quadrant incision. The nasogastric tube was removed on postoperative day 2, and his diet was slowly advanced. Abdominal x-ray image on postoperative day 5 demonstrated no colonic dilation. He was discharged home on postoperative day 7. The patient re-presented to the hospital 3 months later with cecostomy prolapse. He underwent cecostomy takedown with ileocecectomy via circumstomal incision. He was discharged home on postoperative day 2.

[Ogilvie´s syndrome as a rare complication of lumbar stenosis surgery: report of two cases and literature review]. / Syndrome d'Ogilvie, une complication rare de la chirurgie du canal lombaire étroit: à propos de deux cas et revue de la littérature.

Ogilvie´s syndrome is an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, characterized by massive colonic distension in the absence of mechanical cause. It is a very rare pathology after spinal surgery. We report two cases in the neurosurgery department of the University Hospital of Guadeloupe. A 79-year-old woman overweight (BMI= 27kg/m2) and a 56-year-old man experienced history of non-systematized bilateral lumbar and sciatic pain with reduction in walking perimeter for few months. MRI of lumbar spine had revealed a lumbar stenosis with disc herniation. They had undergone decompression surgery with laminectomy. The surgical intervention was uneventful perioperatively. By 48 hours after surgery, they had complained of constipation with cessation of fecal and flatus with resultant abdominal distension. Abdominal CT scan and X-rays showed significant bowel distension with no mechanical obstruction, suggestive of Ogilvie´s syndrome. Conservative treatment had been sufficient to treat this syndrome and the patients completely recovered. In the occurrence of Ogilvie´s syndrome, the most frequent pathology is the lumbar disc herniation. The clinical presentation is typical with a cessation of fecal and gas elimination, and abdominal distension. Conservative treatment remains the treatment of choice when diagnosis is made early.

Fatal Ogilvie's syndrome after hip surgery and review of the literature.

Ogilvie's syndrome refers to a massive dilation of the colon without mechanical obstruction. Although this syndrome is well-known in the clinical literature and may sometimes be encountered as a complication of abdominal, pelvic, or hip surgery, it has only been reported sporadically in the forensic literature. We present the case of a forensic autopsy carried out on a patient whose death was related to cecal necrosis with acute peritonitis due to Ogilvie's syndrome following hip surgery. This diagnosis was based on clinical data, post-mortem imagery, autopsy findings, histological analysis, post-mortem chemistry, and microbiological analysis. A review of the literature and possible physiopathology of this disease are performed, while focusing on medico-legal perspectives.

Ogilvie's syndrome-is there a cutoff diameter to proceed with upfront surgery?

PURPOSE: Although Ogilvie's syndrome was first described about 70 years ago, its etiology and pathogenesis are still not fully understood. But more importantly, it is also not clear when to approach which therapeutic strategy. METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with Ogilvie's syndrome at our institution in a 17-year time period (2002-2019) were included and retrospectively evaluated regarding different therapeutical strategies: conservative, endoscopic, or surgical. RESULTS: The study included 71 patients with 21 patients undergoing conservative therapy, 25 patients undergoing endoscopic therapy, and 25 patients undergoing surgery. However, 38% of patients (n = 8) who were primarily addressed for conservative management failed and had to undergo endoscopy or even surgery. Similarly, 8 patients (32%) with primarily endoscopic treatment had to proceed for surgery. In logistic regression analysis, only a colon diameter ≥ 11 cm (p = 0.01) could predict a lack of therapeutic success by endoscopic treatment. Ninety-day mortality and overall survival were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: As conservative and endoscopic management fail in about one-third of patients, a cutoff diameter ≥ 11 cm may be an adequate parameter to evaluate surgical therapy.

Asystole Following Concomitant Intravenous Administration of Neostigmine and Dexmedetomidine in a Patient With Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a condition characterized by acute dilation of the large bowel without evidence of mechanical obstruction that occurs in a variety of hospitalized patients with many predisposing factors. Management includes supportive care and limitation of offending medications with mainstays of treatment of neostigmine administration and colonic decompression. We report the case of a critically ill patient with ACPO who experienced bradycardia and a brief episode of asystole when receiving concomitant dexmedetomidine and neostigmine infusions but who later remained hemodynamically stable when receiving propofol and neostigmine infusions. The bradycardia and associated hemodynamic instability experienced while on dexmedetomidine and neostigmine infusions were rapidly corrected with atropine and cessation of offending agents. Because ACPO is encountered frequently and the use of dexmedetomidine as a sedative agent in the ICU is increasing, practitioners should be aware of the additive risk of bradycardia and potential for asystole with the combination of neostigmine and dexmedetomidine. Electronic drug interaction databases should be updated and drug information sources should include a drug-drug interaction between dexmedetomidine and neostigmine to reduce the likelihood of concomitant administration.

Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie's Syndrome) after Hip Arthroplasty.

Ogilvie's syndrome is a clinical entity that occurs with signs of excessive dilatation of the colon and obstruction, despite the absence of a mechanical obstruction. Although its etiology remains uncertain, anticholinergic drugs, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism, Parkinson's disease, major orthopedic interventions, or blunt abdominal trauma are considered to be possible causes. Imbalance in sympathetic innervation plays a role in the pathogenesis. The characteristic feature of the syndrome is the presence of a major trauma or surgical history. Although this is an uncommon complication, especially after hip and knee arthroplasty, it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Conservative or surgical colonic decompression and anticholinergic agents play a role in the treatment of Ogilvie's syndrome, which is defined as acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO). In this case report, we present the postoperative process of an elderly patient with comorbid diseases who underwent hemiarthroplasty due to a hip fracture as a result of a domestic fall. We will discuss the diagnosis of ACPO and the approach to multidisciplinary management of the treatment in a case that is frequently encountered in daily practice and starts as a normal report. We aim to remind surgeons that they may encounter ACPO in the postoperative period and to emphasize that mortality and morbidity can be reduced with early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach. We would like to emphasize that Ogilvie's syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis portfolio of all orthopedic surgeons.

Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie Syndrome) After Primary Spinal Fusion: An Analysis of Outcomes and Risk Factors from 2005 to 2014.

BACKGROUND: Ogilvie syndrome (OS) is a rare but serious condition seen in the postoperative period. This was an epidemiologic study using data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2014 to look at incidence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with OS after primary spine fusion. METHODS: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes were used to identify patients who underwent spine fusion surgery. Patients were separated into 2 cohorts based on the diagnosis of OS. Outcome measures and risk factors for cohorts were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and compared. RESULTS: Over the 10-year study period, 3,884,395 patients underwent primary spine fusion surgery. Among these, 0.04% developed OS during the index hospitalization. The greatest incidence seen in primary fusion involved the thoracic spine (0.15%). OS was more common after spine fusion for spine deformity (P < 0.001). Patients with OS were more likely to be men (P < 0.001), older (P < 0.0001), and have more comorbidities (P < 0.0001). Patients with OS were more likely to require postoperative blood transfusions (odds ratio [OR], 3.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.51-4.59; P < 0.001) and sustain any complication (OR, 4.20; 95% CI, 3.17-5.57; P < 0.001). Patients with OS had a longer length of stay (15.7 vs. 3.9 days; P < 0.001) and increased average hospitalization cost ($63,037.03 vs. $26,792.19; P < 0.001). The development of OS was associated with fluid electrolyte disorder (OR, 4.06; 95% CI, 2.99-5.51; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OS is a rare but serious complication of primary spine fusion surgery. Identifying the specific risk factors, symptoms, and potential complications related to OS is critical to aid in decreasing the significant morbidity associated with its development.

A novel mechanism for acute colonic pseudo-obstruction revealed by high-resolution manometry: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a severe form of colonic dysmotility and is associated with considerable morbidity. The pathophysiology of ACPO is considered to be multifactorial but has not been clarified. Although colonic motility is commonly assumed to be hypoactive, there is little direct pathophysiological evidence to support this claim. METHODS: A 56-year-old woman who developed ACPO following spinal surgery underwent 24 h of continuous high-resolution colonic manometry (1 cm resolution over 36 cm) following endoscopic decompression. Manometry data were analyzed and correlated with a three-dimensional colonic model developed from computed tomography (CT) imaging. RESULTS: The distal colon was found to be profoundly hyperactive, showing near-continuous non-propagating motor activity. Dominant frequencies at 2-6 and 8-12 cycles per minute were observed. The activity was often dissociated and out-of-phase across adjacent regions. The mean amplitude of motor activity was higher than that reported from pre- and post-prandial healthy controls. Correlation with CT imaging suggested that these disordered hyperactive motility sequences might act as a functional pseudo-obstruction in the distal colon resulting in secondary proximal dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first detailed description of motility patterns in ACPO and suggests a novel underlying disease mechanism, warranting further investigation and identification of potential therapeutic targets.

[Acute Colonic Pseudo-obstruction Induced by Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome].

A colonic pseudo-obstruction is a disorder that causes abdominal distension and abdominal pain similar to a mechanical obstruction, but there are no structural lesions that can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract. This condition can be acute or chronic. An acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, also called Ogilvie's syndrome, is believed to be a condition induced by other causes that are different from a chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction. The pathogenesis involves abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system induced by systemic diseases or medications, and it often improves when the primary causes are treated. On the other hand, a chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction can occur repeatedly without a particular cause. The authors encountered neuroleptic malignant syndrome that caused acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. This paper reports a case with a review of the relevant literature. This is the first case reported in Korea. This case shows that physicians should consider neuroleptic malignant syndrome as a cause of an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction and rapid septic progression after transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a rare condition observed in patients with some underlying medical or surgical conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient with ACPO development and rapid septic progression after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old man who underwent transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) for right inguinal hernia presented with difficulty in defecation and abdominal distension. He visited our emergency department on the third postoperative day. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) detected marked enlargement from the cecum to the rectum. There was no evidence of mechanical obstruction, ischemia, or perforation. He was diagnosed with postoperative constipation and received conservative management. He gradually started to improve; however, he suddenly experienced cardiopulmonary arrest 30 h after admission and could not be resuscitated. CT imaging of the abdomen during autopsy did not show any significant change, such as perforation, from the time of admission. Based on the clinical course and examination results, postoperative ACPO was considered the fundamental cause of fulminant obstructive colitis leading to sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: ACPO following minimally invasive surgery is exceedingly rare. However, it is important to consider this disease as one of the differential diagnoses to avoid missing the chance for advanced therapy.

A case series of 3 patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after vincristine administration.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) or Ogilvie's syndrome is characterized by acute colonic dilatation in the absence of mechanical obstruction. It usually occurs in hospitalized patients with acute illness or following surgical procedures, but several medications such as cytotoxic chemotherapy can also induce ACPO. We report three cases of patients with Ogilvie's syndrome after induction therapy with vincristine-containing chemotherapy. Conservative management failed in all three cases. Awareness for this syndrome is necessary when administrating vincristine, because delay in diagnosis may lead to colonic ischaemia and perforation.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction with bowel rupture after caesarean section in HELLP syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ogilvie syndrome, also known as acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), can occur postpartum after caesarean section (C-section), often resulting in caecal dilatation. The incidence rate is approximately 100 cases in 100,000 patients per year (Ross et al., Am Surg 82:102-11, 2016). Without proper diagnosis and treatment, it may progress to intestinal perforation or other fatal complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old pregnant woman underwent emergency low-segment C-section due to complications of Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets syndrome (HELLP) syndrome. ACPO was suspected on the third day after C-section based on inability to pass flatus, evident abdominal distension, slight abdominal pain, and computed tomography (CT) scan revealing severe, diffuse colonic distention with caecal dilatation of approximately 9 cm. Based on these findings, conservative treatment was implemented. However, 6 days after C-section, her symptoms worsened, and CT showed possible intestinal perforation; thus, an emergency laparotomy was performed. Due to a 3-cm (diameter) laceration in the anterolateral wall of the ascending colon and a 5-cm tear in the ileocecal junction, in combination with mucosal eversion in the colon, resection of the ileocecum, distal closure of the ascending colon, and a terminal ileostomy were performed. The patient was discharged 2 weeks post-laparotomy and continued to undergo nursing care for the incision and stoma. Ileostomy was performed 4 months later. CONCLUSION: Ogilvie syndrome after C-section is an extremely rare but severe condition, which warrants early recognition and treatment to prevent potentially fatal complications, especially in patients with poor health status.

Ogilvie syndrome: peculiar manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in non-institutionalized middle age female in Tanzania.

Since it was first documented in 1948 by Sir William Heneage Ogilvie, numerous cases of Ogilvie syndrome have been described in literature due to various medical and surgical causes. Nonetheless, only a handful of cases only have been documented due to underlying Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). A 41-year-old female was admitted with an acute abdomen secondary to partial mechanical intestinal obstruction or paralytic ileus based on signs and symptoms and Abdominal X-Ray (AXR). She was known to be HIV/AIDS WHO clinical stage II on treatment. On diagnostic imaging studies she had distended large bowels without features of mechanical intestinal obstruction and the diagnosis of Ogilvie syndrome was suspected after other differentials were excluded. Early recognition and appropriate management are essential, because if left untreated the bowel distension may progress to caecal perforation and fatal peritonitis. Medical imaging with Computer Tomography (CT) scan and colonoscopy has helped in achieving an accurate diagnosis and avoiding unnecessary laparotomies. Although an uncommon disorder, for earlier and accurate diagnosis a high index of suspicion is required by clinicians and radiologists who are treating patients with underlying HIV/AIDS. Ogilvie's syndrome is a rare condition and if missed can be fatal. In patients with HIV/AIDS, the symptoms may be directly due to HIV infection, secondary to opportunistic infections or possible neurotoxic effects of HIV treatment or lack of vitamin and minerals. It is important to exclude Ogilvie syndrome in patients from surgical causes of the acute abdomen to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.