Fludarabine induced intestinal pseudo-obstruction: case report and literature review

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a recognized but rare complication of chemotherapy. Vinca alkaloids and cytarabine have been reported to be associated with intestinal pseudo-obstruction. We report a case of fludarabine induced severe intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a 66-year-old man suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and describe our successful management of this with a combination of parasympathomimetic and mechanical decompression, after failure of conservative management.