pseudoobstruction

pseudoobstruction

Ogilvie syndrome, non-toxic megacolon, acute colonic pseudoobstruction Gastroenterology Massive colonic dilation without mechanical obstruction, possibly due to a sympathetic nervous system defect, resulting in chronic peristaltic paralysis, affecting the cecum, right colon, distal small intestine, less commonly, the esophagus and stomach, resulting in nonabsorption of essential nutrients Clinical Initially painless abdominal distension with nausea, pain relieved by vomiting and diarrhea and intermittent Sx extending over yrs; the condition may be congenital–eg, hereditary hollow viscus myopathy, acquired–DM, hypothyroidism, collagen vascular diseases, myotonic dystrophy, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, amyloidosis, trauma, surgery, inflammation–pancreatitis, infections, radiation therapy, malignancy, cardiovascular–MI, neurologic, respiratory–pneumonia, metabolic–alcoholism, hypokalemia and other electrolyte imbalance, uremia, muscular dystrophy, familial dysautonomia–Riley-Day syndrome, porphyria, dysproteinemia, drug-related–phenothiazines, TCAs, ganglion blockers, clonidine, narcotics, anticholinergics Management Decompress intestine, correct electrolyte imbalance, cecostomy, or combined transplantation of portions of the small and large intestine and liver. See Paralytic ileus.