Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome): radiologic diagnosis and medical treatment with neostigmine. Report of 4 cases

Pseudoobstrucción colónica aguda (Sindrome de Ogilvie) posterior a una nefrectomía radical: Reporte de caso

El Sindrome de Ogilvie se caracteriza por una dilatación masiva del colon y una clínica sugestiva de obstrucción intestinal mecánica, sin causa orgánica. Presentamos un caso de dilatación aguda idiopática del colon secundaria a una cirugía abdominal.

El objetivo de este reporte fue la descripción de una patología urológica inusual que puede pasarse por alto o tratarse como un íleo adinámico y, la revisión de la literatura relacionada con la definición, factores de riesgos, etiología, fisiopatología y el tratamiento de la misma.

Paciente masculino de 61 años con antecedente de nefrectomía radical izquierda por tumor renal que, a las 48hs del alta hospitalaria, consultó por presentar distensión abdominal aguda. Se solicitó una radiografía abdominal y una tomografía computada que evidenciaba importante dilatación intestinal y un diámetro cecal mayor a 12cm.

Se practicó una laparotomía exploradora de urgencia constatándose dilatación colónica del colon transverso y ascendente con un cambio de diámetro a nivel del ángulo esplénico, sin causa osbtructiva. Finalmente, se realizó colostomía en asa.

A los 6 meses de seguimiento, la videocolonoscopía no mostró lesiones endoluminales concluyendo en un Sindrome de Ogilvie secundario a la nefrectomía. Finalmente, se efectuó reconstrucción del tránsito con buena evolución posterior.

En nuestro caso, el Sindrome de Ogilvie fue una complicación postoperatoria y como fallaron las terapias conservadoras iniciales instauradas, este reporte provee una modalidad de tratamiento alternativo. Si se reconoce temprano y se trata adecuadamente, la pseudoobstrucción se resolverá en la mayoría de los pacientes y la tasa de mortalidad posterior será menor.

Ogilvie's syndrome after pediatric spinal deformity surgery: successful treatment with neostigmine

Ogilvie's syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal disease that can easily be mistaken for postoperative ileus. Also known as acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, early recognition and diagnosis of the syndrome allows for treatment prior to bowel perforation and requisite abdominal surgery. The authors report a case of Ogilvie's syndrome following spinal deformity correction and tethered cord release in an adolescent who presented with acute abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting on postoperative Day 0. The patient was initially diagnosed with adynamic ileus and treated conservatively with bowel rest, reduction in narcotic dosage, and a regimen of stool softeners, laxatives, and enemas. Despite this treatment, her clinical course failed to improve, and she demonstrated significant colonic distension radiographically. Intravenous neostigmine was administered as a bolus with a rapid and dramatic response. This case is the first reported instance of neostigmine use for Ogilvie's syndrome treatment following a pediatric neurosurgical operation.

Intravenous neostigmine for postoperative acute colonic pseudo-obstruction

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on the safety and effectiveness of neostigmine for the treatment of postoperative acute colonic pseudo-obstruction.

DATA SOURCES

The MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases from November 1969 to November 2011 were queried for articles published in English, using the search terms neostigmine, acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, postoperative, surgery, and Ogilvie syndrome.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

All relevant original studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, guidelines, and review articles were assessed for inclusion. References from pertinent articles were examined for additional content not found during the initial search.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Neostigmine may provide an effective treatment option for postoperative acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) after conservative treatment measures have failed. One randomized controlled trial, 8 prospective and 3 retrospective observational studies, and 9 case reports evaluated neostigmine for ACPO. Included studies were limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneous populations not focused on postoperative patients, use of adjuvant agents, and lack of a consistent neostigmine regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Neostigmine may be a safe and effective treatment option for postoperative ACPO; however, current data do not support its use as a first-line intervention. Prospective and retrospective studies have demonstrated improvement in clinical symptoms, reduction in time to resolution, and reduction of recurrence for patients who failed conservative management. Prospective clinical trial data that evaluate early neostigmine versus conservative management are critically needed to determine neostigmine's role as a first-line therapy for ACPO.