[A rare cause of intestinal pseudo-obstruction: Ogilvie's syndrome]

The authors report four cases of Ogilvie's syndrome, a rare cause of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. After having reviewed the pathogenetic hypotheses reported in the international literature, the authors describe the symptoms, diagnostic iter and conservative and surgical management. With regard to the latter, the authors report their own experience which differs from that reported in the literature since they advocate the use of intraoperative colonoscopy for both decompressive and diagnostic purposes, the use of the cecal fistula instead of mid-canal cecostomy, and the application of a multi-fenestrated endocolic probe inserted through the anus and as far as the left colic angle for further decompressive purposes.