Acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction: report of two cases

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Intestinal pseudo-obstruction presents a diagnostic challenge, mimicking mechanical blockage.
• Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) and idiopathic small bowel pseudo-obstruction are rare but serious conditions.

Observation:

• Reported are two distinct cases of acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction over six years.
• One case involved Ogilvie's syndrome in a patient with severe cardiopulmonary disease.
• The second case was a rare idiopathic small bowel pseudo-obstruction.

Findings:

• Both patients with acute colonic and small bowel pseudo-obstruction achieved successful treatment outcomes.
• The study highlights successful management of these rare gastrointestinal emergencies.

Implications:

• Successful treatment of these rare conditions underscores the importance of timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention.
• This case review contributes to the literature on managing complex pseudo-obstruction syndromes.
• Further research into idiopathic pseudo-obstruction may improve patient outcomes.