Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Ogilvie syndrome

For patient information click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Colonic pseudoobstruction

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Ogilvie syndrome is defined as the obstruction of the colon with no mechanical reason and thereby, it is called pseudo-obstruction (not a true obstruction). The colonic pseduo-obstruction pathogenesis is thought to be due to impairement of the autonomic nervous system. The impairment includes the parasympathetic fibers of S2-S4 ending up with atonic colon and obstruction. However, in some cases the autonomic plexus in the colon is intact. The pseudo-obstruction is commonly caused by trauma, major surgeries, and myocardial infarction. Ogilvie syndrome must be differentiated from other causes of abdominal distention as volvulus and diverticulitis.The incidence of Ogilvie’s syndrome is 100 per 100,000 individuals. Ogilvie’s syndrome commonly affects patients more than 60 years and it is more prevelant int he men more than women. Common risk factors of Ogilvie’s syndrome include having neurologic disorders, taking narcotic medications, and trauma. If left untreated, of patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction may progress to develop intestinal perforation which is life threatening complication. Common complications of Ogilvie’s syndrome include colonic ischemia and intestinal perforation. Prognosis of Ogilvie syndrome depends on the underlying cause of pseudo-obstruction. Common symptoms of Ogilvie’s syndrome include abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.The laboratory findings of colonic pseudo-obstruction may include leukocytosis due to the underlying disease not due to the pseudo-obstruction itself. Many patients with Ogilvie syndrome may have metabolic imbalance which include hypokalemia and hypocalcemia. On abdominal x-ray, Ogilvie syndrome is associtated with dilated bowel with air-filled colon and normal haustral markings. Abdominal CT scan is performed in suspected cases of colonic pseudo-obstruction to detect the site of the obstruction. Management of Ogilvie syndrome depends mainly on the supportive care measures which include include treatment of the underlying cause of the obstruction, terminating the concurrent medications that may cause intestinal dysmotility, and administration of intravenous fluids and saline. Neostigmine can be used for the medical treatment in unresponsive cases to the supportive care. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with either colonic ischemia, intestinal perforation, or sepsis. Surgical techniques include total colectomy, ileostomy, or Hartmann’s procedure.

Historical Perspective

Acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction was first reported by Dr. William Heneage Ogilvie in 1948 and the syndrome was named on him after that.

Classification

Ogilvie’s syndrome can be classified based on the duration of the disease into acute or chronic.

Pathophysiology

The colonic pseudo-obstruction pathogenesis is believed to be due to impairment of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic impairment may involve the parasympathetic fibers of S2-S4 which is responsible for innervation of the distal colon and may lead to atonic colon and proximal obstruction. In few cases, Ogilvie’s syndrome (colonic pseudo-obstruction) may show atrophic myopathy with thinned colonic wall and intact myenteric plexus.

Causes

Common causes of Ogilvie’s syndrome include traumagynecological surgeries, major surgeries as hip replacement, and myocardial infarction. Other causes include causes of non mechanical bowel obstruction as acid base imbalance, acute pancreatitisapoplexy, and cancers.

Differentiating Hereditary pancreatitis from Other Diseases

Ogilvie syndrome (colonic pseudo-obstruction) must be differentiated from other diseases that cause abdominal distention and abdominal pain such as irritable bowel syndrome, volvulus and acute diverticulitis.

Epidemiology and Demographics

The incidence of Ogilvie’s syndrome is 100 per 100,000 individuals. Ogilvie’s syndrome commonly affects patients more than 60years and it is more prevelant int he men more than women.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors of Ogilvie’s syndrome include having neurologic disorders, taking narcotic medications, and trauma. Other risk factors include systemic lupus erythematosus, alcoholism, and multiple myeloma.

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for Ogilvie’s syndrome.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

If left untreated, of patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction may progress to develop intestinal perforation which is life threatening complication. Common complications of Ogilvie’s syndrome include colonic ischemia and intestinal perforation. Prognosis of Ogilvie syndrome depends on the underlying cause of pseudo-obstruction.

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Common symptoms of Ogilvie’s syndrome include abdominal painabdominal distentionnauseavomiting, and weight loss.

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

There are no specific diagnostic laboratory findings associated with Ogilvie’s syndrome. The laboratory findings may include leukocytosis due to the underlying disease not due to the pseudo-obstruction itself. Many patients with Ogilvie syndrome may have metabolic imbalance which include hypokalemia and hypocalcemia. Other laboratory tests that can be performed to exclude other causes include complete blood count, lactate levels, and thyroid hormone levels.

X-ray

On abdominal x-ray, Ogilvie syndrome is associtated with dilated bowel with air-filled colon and normal haustral markings.

Ultrasound

There are no ultrasound findings associated with acute colonic pseudoobstruction (Ogilvie’s syndrome).

CT scan

Abdominal CT scan is performed in suspected cases of colonic pseudo-obstruction to detect the site of the obstruction. Abdominal CT scan may show the presence of dilation of the large bowel without evidence of mechanical obstruction and the colonic dilation may extend to the rectum.

MRI

There are no MRI findings associated with Ogilvie syndrome.

Other Imaging Findings

There are no other imgaing findings associated with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie’s syndrome).

Other Diagnostic Studies

There are no other diagnostic findings associated with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie’s syndrome).

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Supportive care is the first line of management of the colonic pseudo-obstruction. The supportive measures include treatment of the underlying cause of the obstruction, terminating the concurrent medications that may cause intestinal dysmotility, and administration of intravenous fluids and saline. Neostigmine can be used in the cases of pseudo-obstruction resistant to the supportive measures. Non-surgical techniques can be performed to decompress the obstruction and it includes colonoscopic decompression and percutaneous cecostomy.

Surgery

Surgery is not the first-line treatment option for patients with Ogilvie syndrome. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with either colonic ischemia, intestinal perforation, or sepsis. Surgical techniques include total colectomy, ileostomy, or Hartmann procedure.

Primary Prevention

Effective measures for the primary prevention of Ogilvie syndrome include supportive care measures as treatment of the underlying cause of the obstruction, terminating the concurrent medications that may cause intestinal dysmotility, and administration of intravenous fluids and saline.

Secondary Prevention

The primary and secondary prevention strategies for Ogilvie syndrome are the same.

References


Template:WikiDoc Sources

Historical Perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction was first reported by Dr. William Heneage Ogilvie in 1948 and the syndrome was named on him after that.

Historical perspective

  • In 1948, Dr. William Heneage Ogilvie was the first to report two cases of intestinal pseudo-obstruction due to a malignancy. After that, the syndrome was named on him as Ogilvie’s syndrome.[1][2]
  • Dr. Ogilvie concluded that both cases are due to interrupted nerve supply due to malignant disease in the region of celiac axis and semilunar ganglia.
  • Since 1948 and moving forward, many other cases have been reported about intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

References

Pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

The colonic pseudo-obstruction pathogenesis is believed to be due to impairment of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic impairment may involve the parasympathetic fibers of S2-S4 which is responsible for innervation of the distal colon and may lead to atonic colon and proximal obstruction. In few cases, Ogilvie’s syndrome (colonic pseudo-obstruction) may show atrophic myopathy with thinned colonic wall and intact myenteric plexus.

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

Ogilvie’s syndrome

  • The association of spinal anaesthesias, drugs and nervous trauma has lead to the understanding that Ogilvie syndrome (colonic dilatation without true obstruction) may be caused by impairment of the autonomic nervous system.[1][2][3]
  • Damage to the parasympathetic fibers of S2 – S4 causes the distal colon to become atonic and become obstructed proximally.
  • However, the exact mechanism is unknown, especially in patients who present with this syndrome without an obvious injury to the parasympathetic nerves.
  • Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction occurs when the colon’s diameter rises quickly, which increases the tension in the colonic wall, leading to colonic ischemia and possibly, perforation with a diameter exceeding 10 – 12cm.
  • A rare case of Ogilvie syndrome showed atrophic myopathy with a thinned out colonic wall, despite a perfectly intact myenteric plexus and unaffected ganglion cells, with no evidence of fibrosis or inflammation.

Paralytic ileus

  • The majority of paralytic (adynamic) ileus cases occur after major abdominal surgery, such as hysterectomy.
  • Paralytic ileus is thought to occur with manipulation and trauma of the intestinal tract.
  • Post operative dysmotility is associated with inflammation, impaired neural reflexes and the release of neural hormone peptides.

Associated conditions

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Vanek VW, Al-Salti M (1986). “Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon (Ogilvie’s syndrome). An analysis of 400 cases”. Dis. Colon Rectum. 29 (3): 203–10. PMID 3753674.
  2. Ogilvie WH (1987). “William Heneage Ogilvie 1887-1971. Large-intestine colic due to sympathetic deprivation. A new clinical syndrome”. Dis. Colon Rectum. 30 (12): 984–7. PMID 3319452.
  3. Saunders MD (2007). “Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction”. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 21 (4): 671–87. doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2007.03.001. PMID 17643908.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Schwarz NT, Kalff JC, Türler A, Speidel N, Grandis JR, Billiar TR, Bauer AJ (2004). “Selective jejunal manipulation causes postoperative pan-enteric inflammation and dysmotility”. Gastroenterology. 126 (1): 159–69. PMID 14699497.
  5. Jørgensen H, Wetterslev J, Møiniche S, Dahl JB (2000). “Epidural local anaesthetics versus opioid-based analgesic regimens on postoperative gastrointestinal paralysis, PONV and pain after abdominal surgery”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD001893. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001893. PMID 11034732.
  6. Kalff JC, Schraut WH, Billiar TR, Simmons RL, Bauer AJ (2000). “Role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in postoperative intestinal smooth muscle dysfunction in rodents”. Gastroenterology. 118 (2): 316–27. PMID 10648460.
  7. Cullen JJ, Eagon JC, Kelly KA (1994). “Gastrointestinal peptide hormones during postoperative ileus. Effect of octreotide”. Dig. Dis. Sci. 39 (6): 1179–84. PMID 7515341.
Causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Common causes of Ogilvie’s syndrome include trauma, gynecological surgeries, major surgeries as hip replacement, and myocardial infarction. Other causes include causes of non mechanical bowel obstruction as acid base imbalance, acute pancreatitis, apoplexy, and cancers.

Causes

Non-mechanical bowel obstruction

Pseudo-bowel obstruction

References

  1. Ogilvie Syndrome as a Postoperative Complication Patty L. Tenofsky, MD; R. Larry Beamer, MD; R. Stephen Smith, MD Arch Surg. 2000;135:682-687.
  2. Sreter KB, Barisic B, Popovic-Grle S (2017). “Pharmacogenomics and tailored polypharmacy: an 80-year-old lady with rosuvastatin-associated rhabdomyolysis and maprotiline-related Ogilvie’s syndrome”. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 55 (5): 442–448. doi:10.5414/CP202784. PMID 28257284.

Template:WH Template:WS

Differentiating Ogilvie syndrome from other Diseases

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Ogilvie syndrome (colonic pseudo-obstruction) must be differentiated from other diseases that cause abdominal distention and abdominal pain such as irritable bowel syndrome, volvulus and acute diverticulitis.


Differentiating bowel obstruction from other Diseases

Ogilvie syndrome (colonic pseudo-obstruction) must be differentiated from other diseases that cause abdominal distention and abdominal pain such as irritable bowel syndrome, volvulus and acute diverticulitis.


The following tables discusses differential diagnoses based on abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting:

Abbreviations: RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram

Disease Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Comments
Symptoms Signs
Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging
Acute suppurative cholangitis RUQ + + + + + + + N
  • Abnormal LFT
  • WBC >10,000
  • Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor
  • Septic shock occurs with features of SIRS
Acute cholecystitis RUQ + + + Hypoactive Ultrasound shows:
  • Gallstone
  • Inflammation
Acute pancreatitis Epigastric + + ± ± N
  • Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation
  • CT scan shows severity of pancreatitis
  • Pain radiation to back
Chronic pancreatitis Epigastric ± ± + + N
  • Increased amylase / lipase
  • Increased stool fat content
  • Pancreatic function test
CT scan
  • Calcification
  • Pseudocyst
  • Dilation of main pancreatic duct
  • Predisposes to pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic carcinoma Epigastric + + + + N

Skin manifestations may include:

Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments
Cholelithiasis RUQ/Epigastric ± ± ± Normal to hyperactive for dislodged stone
  • Fatty food intolerance
Peptic ulcer disease Diffuse ± + + Positive if perforated Positive if perforated Positive if perforated N
  • Ascitic fluid
    • LDH > serum LDH
    • Glucose < 50mg/dl
    • Total protein > 1g/dl
Gastritis Epigastric ± + Positive in chronic gastritis + N
Gastroesophageal reflux disease Epigastric ± N N
  • Gastric emptying studies
Gastric outlet obstruction Epigastric ± + Hyperactive
  • Abdominal x-ray– air fluid level
  • Barium upper GI studies- narrowed pylorus
  • Succussion splash
Gastroparesis Epigastric + + ± Hyperactive/hypoactive
  • Hemoglobin
  • Fasting plasma glucose
  • Serum total protein, albumin, thyrotropin (TSH), and an antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer
  • HbA1c
  • Scintigraphic gastric emptying
  • Succussion splash
  • Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
  • Full thickness gastric and small intestinal biopsy
Dumping syndrome Lower and then diffuse + + + + Hyperactive
  • Glucose challenge test
  • Hydrogen breath test
  • Upper GI series
  • Gastric emptying study
  • Postgastrectomy
Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments
Acute appendicitis Starts in epigastrium, migrates to RLQ + Positive in pyogenic appendicitis + ± Positive in perforated appendicitis + + Hypoactive
  • Ct scan
  • Ultrasound
  • Positive Rovsing sign
  • Positive Obturator sign
  • Positive Iliopsoas sign
Acute diverticulitis LLQ + ± + + ± + Positive in perforated diverticulitis + + Hypoactive
  • CT scan
  • Ultrasound
Infective colitis Diffuse + ± + + Positive in fulminant colitis ± ± Hyperactive CT scan
  • Bowel wall thickening
  • Edema
Viral hepatitis RUQ + + + Positive in Hep A and E + Positive in fulminant hepatitis Positive in acute + N
  • Abnormal LFTs
  • Viral serology
  • US
  • Hep A and E have fecal-oral route of transmission
  • Hep B and C transmits via blood transfusion and sexual contact.
Liver abscess RUQ + + + + ± + + + ± Normal or hypoactive
  • US
  • CT
Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments
Pyelonephritis Unilateral + ± + + Hypoactive
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine culture
  • Blood culture
  • CT
  • MRI
  • CVA tenderness
Renal colic Flank pain + N
  • Ultrasound
  • CT scan
Small bowel obstruction Diffuse + + + + + + ± Hyperactive then absent Abdominal X ray
  • Dilated loops of bowel with air fluid levels
  • Gasless abdomen
  • “Target sign”– , indicative of intussusception
  • Venous cut-off sign” – suggests thrombosis
Volvulus Diffuse + + Positive in perforated cases + + Hyperactive then absent CT scan and abdominal X ray
  • U shaped sigmoid colon
  • “Whirl sign”
Biliary colic RUQ + + N
  • Ultrasound
Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments
Mesenteric ischemia Periumbilical Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous + + + + Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous Hyperactive to absent CT angiography
  • SMA or SMV thrombosis
  • Also known as abdominal angina that worsens with eating
Acute ischemic colitis Diffuse + ± + + + + + + + Hyperactive then absent Abdominal x-ray
  • Distension and pneumatosis

CT scan

  • Double halo appearance, thumbprinting
  • Thickening of bowel
  • May lead to shock
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm Diffuse ± + + + + N
  • Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) 
  • Unstable hemodynamics
Intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage Diffuse ± ± + + N
  • ↓ Hb
  • ↓ Hct
  • CT scan
Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments
Torsion of the cyst RLQ / LLQ + ± ± N
  • Ultrasound
  • Sudden onset & severe pain
Cyst rupture RLQ / LLQ + + ± ± N
  • Ultrasound
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy RLQ / LLQ + + + + N
  • Ultrasound
History of
  • Missed period
  • Vaginal bleeding
Pneumonia RUQ/LUQ + + + ± + Normal or hypoactive
  • ABGs
  • Leukocytosis
  • Pancytopenia
  • CXR
  • CT chest
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough
Myocardial Infarction Epigastric ± + Positive in cardiogenic shock N ECG

Echocardiogram

  • Wall motion abnormality
  • Wall rupture
  • Septal rupture
  • Chest pain, tightness, diaphoresis

Complications:

The following table discusses differential diagnoses of abdominal pain with constipation:

Abbreviations: RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram

Disease Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Comments
Symptoms Signs
Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo-

tension

Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging
Acute diverticulitis LLQ + ± + + ± + Positive in perforated diverticulitis + + Hypoactive
  • CT scan
  • Ultrasound
Irritable bowel syndrome Diffuse ± ± + N Normal Normal Symptomatic treatment
Colon carcinoma Diffuse/localized ± ± + + ±
  • Normal or hyperactive if obstruction present
  • CBC
  • Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
  • Colonoscopy
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy
  • Barium enema
  • CT colonography 
  • PILLCAM 2: A colon capsule for CRC screening may be used in patients with an incomplete colonoscopy who lacks obstruction
Small bowel obstruction Diffuse + + + + + + ± Hyperactive then absent Abdominal X ray
  • Dilated loops of bowel with air fluid levels
  • Gasless abdomen
  • “Target sign”– , indicative of intussusception
  • Venous cut-off sign” – suggests thrombosis
Volvulus Diffuse + + Positive in perforated cases + + Hyperactive then absent CT scan and abdominal X ray
  • U shaped sigmoid colon
  • “Whirl sign”

References


Template:WikiDoc Sources

Epidemiology and Demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

The incidence of Ogilvie’s syndrome is 100 per 100,000 individuals. Ogilvie’s syndrome commonly affects patients more than 60years and it is more prevelant int he men more than women.

Epidemiology and demographics

Incidence

  • Worldwide, the incidence of Ogilvie’s syndrome is 100 per 100,000 inidividuals.[1]

Age

  • Ogilvie’s syndrome commonly affects patients more than 60 years old.[2]

Gender

  • Ogilvie’s syndrome is more prevalent in the men more than women.[2]

Race

  • There is no racial predilection for Ogilvie’s syndrome.

References

  1. Ross SW, Oommen B, Wormer BA, Walters AL, Augenstein VA, Heniford BT; et al. (2016). “Acute Colonic Pseudo-obstruction: Defining the Epidemiology, Treatment, and Adverse Outcomes of Ogilvie’s Syndrome”. Am Surg. 82 (2): 102–11. PMID 26874130.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Vanek VW, Al-Salti M (1986). “Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon (Ogilvie’s syndrome). An analysis of 400 cases”. Dis Colon Rectum. 29 (3): 203–10. PMID 3753674.
Risk Factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Common risk factors of Ogilvie’s syndrome include having neurologic disorders, taking narcotic medications, and trauma. Other risk factors include systemic lupus erythematosusalcoholism, and multiple myeloma.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors for Ogilvie’s syndrome include the following:[1][2]

Less common risk factors for Ogilvie’s syndrome include the following:[3]

References

  1. Ogilvie Syndrome as a Postoperative Complication Patty L. Tenofsky, MD; R. Larry Beamer, MD; R. Stephen Smith, MD Arch Surg. 2000;135:682-687.
  2. Sreter KB, Barisic B, Popovic-Grle S (2017). “Pharmacogenomics and tailored polypharmacy: an 80-year-old lady with rosuvastatin-associated rhabdomyolysis and maprotiline-related Ogilvie’s syndrome”. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 55 (5): 442–448. doi:10.5414/CP202784. PMID 28257284.
  3. García López CA, Laredo-Sánchez F, Malagón-Rangel J, Flores-Padilla MG, Nellen-Hummel H (2014). “Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a real diagnostic challenge”. World J Gastroenterol. 20 (32): 11443–50. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11443. PMC 4145788. PMID 25170234.
Screening

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for Ogilvie’s syndrome.

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for Ogilvie’s syndrome.

References

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

If left untreated, of patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction may progress to develop intestinal perforation which is life threatening complication. Common complications of Ogilvie’s syndrome include colonic ischemia and intestinal perforation. Prognosis of Ogilvie syndrome depends on the underlying cause of pseudo-obstruction.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

  • If left untreated, of patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction may progress to develop intestinal perforation which is life threatening complication.

Complications

Prognosis

  • Prognosis of Ogilvie syndrome depends on the underlying cause of the pseudoobstruction and the developed complications.[1]
  • Prognosis is generally poor with mortatlity rate is estimated to be 15% with early treatment.
  • The mortality rate is 36-44% in case the colonic ischemia or intestinal perforation develop.

References

  1. Saunders MD, Kimmey MB (2005). “Systematic review: acute colonic pseudo-obstruction”. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 22 (10): 917–25. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02668.x. PMID 16268965.

Template:WH Template:WS

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | X Ray | CT | Ultrasound | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Primary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1

Related Chapters


Template:WikiDoc Sources

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH