Surgical treatment of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: report of three cases

We report the cases of three patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) whose quality of life (QOL) was improved by palliative surgery in combination with home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Loop enterostomy and shortening of the gastrointestinal tract was performed with good results in all three patients to relieve abdominal distension that was progressive despite treatment with prokinetic drugs. Oral intake was also improved after surgical treatment in one patient who underwent massive resection of the jejunoileum. HPN maintained a satisfactory nutritional state in all patients. These three case reports serve to demonstrate that surgical intervention to improve QOL should be considered for patients with CIP if medication is not effective and symptoms are progressive.