Síndrome de Ogilvie

Abstract

Background: Ogilvie's syndrome is an idiopathic acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction. It's pathogenesis is not completely clarified until today. Frequently it is presented in association to non-digestive processes and it is in relation to imbalances in the vegetative inervation of the colon. Objectives: the objective of this investigation is to make a retrospective analysis of the patients treated by our group with this pathology, with the purpose of evaluating the affected population's features, the results of the different treatment strategies and evolution. Design: retrospective, descriptive. Material and method: a retrospective study of all the patients admitted to the Division of General Surgery of the José M. Penna Hospital with diagnosis of Ogilvie's syndrome in a two year's period was carried out. Results: two patients received conservative treatment, with complete remission of the symptoms in 48 hs. Two were treated by colonoscopic decompression, without recurrence of the symptoms. The remaining four patients were subjected to surgical treatment. In all the cases a cecostomy was carried out with good results. There was no morbimortality. Conclusions: Ogilvie's syndrome should be suspected based on the clinical situation. The simple abdominal x-ray is useful in the follow-up, and the colonic endoscopy is the elective method to rule out organic obstruction and to decompress the colon. Surgery is reserved for those cases with risk of imminent colonic perforation.