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Colonic pseudo-obstruction: value of prone lateral view of the rectum
1Department of Radiology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia.
Background:
Collection of fluid within the rectum of patients with gas-distended bowel can simulate as obstructive lesion.
Methods:
In 12 patients with suspected distal colonic obstruction on plain radiographs, we obtained 2 additional films comprising a right lateral decubitus view of the abdomen followed by a prone lateral view of the pelvis.
Results:
Significant gaseous distension of the rectum was achieved in 75% of the 8 patients with pseudo-obstruction. Gaseous filling of the rectum did not occur in any patient with a structural obstructive lesion.
Conclusions:
In the appropriate clinical setting this approach could exclude the presence of obstruction and avoid unnecessary barium enemas in the majority of patients with colonic pseudo-obstruction.