Pseudo-obstruction intestinale chronique

Latest developments in chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a type of intestinal dysfunction presenting as symptoms of intestinal obstruction but without actual mechanical obstruction. An extremely low incidence, non-specific clinical symptoms, strong heterogeneity, and no definitive cause in some patients make CIPO very difficult to diagnose correctly. Imaging and gastrointestinal manometry are commonly used. Most patients have progressive worsening of their symptoms and require intervention, and nutritional assessment and treatment are very important to determine the prognosis. With improvements in surgical techniques, small bowel transplantation is a feasible treatment option for patients with advanced CIPO; however, the long-term prognosis for CIPO patients remains unsatisfactory. Generally, the disease is rare and difficult to diagnose, which leads to clinicians’ lack of understanding of the disease and results in a high rate of misdiagnosis. This review describes the characteristics of CIPO and the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment, in detail. The goal of our review is to improve clinicians' understanding of CIPO so that the disease is identified quickly and accurately, and treated as early as possible to improve patients’ quality of life.

Small Bowel Dysmotility, Pseudoobstruction, and Functional Correlation with Histopathology: Lessons Learned

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Small bowel dysmotility is a broad heterogeneous term that encompasses a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders resulting from abnormal gut motility. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a severe, rare, and complex small bowel motility disorder at the extreme end of this spectrum. It is characterized by failure of the intestinal tract to propel contents, which results in signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction albeit in the absence of any obstructive lesion(s). In this article, we discuss up-to-date diagnostic techniques, management options, and histopathological findings in CIPO.

RECENT FINDINGS

We will emphasize the latest diagnostic methodologies and therapeutic options as well as enteric histopathologic abnormalities in patients with CIPO. CIPO continues to be a clinical challenge. Several novel pharmacological agents hold promise including gastrointestinal hormone agonists and prokinetics. Furthermore, histopathologic findings may help guide therapy and provide further prognostic significance. At present, nutritional support, symptom management, and avoidance of long-term complications are the mainstay of treatment in CIPO.

Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastro-jejunostomy (PEG-J) decompression therapy for patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO)

BACKGROUNDS

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is an intractable rare digestive disease manifesting persistent small bowel distension without any mechanical cause. Intestinal decompression is a key treatment, but conventional method including a trans-nasal small intestinal tube is invasive and painful. Therefore, a less invasive and tolerable new decompression method is urgently desired. We conducted a pilot study and assessed the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic gastro-jejunostomy (PEG-J) decompression therapy in CIPO patients.

METHODS

Seven definitive CIPO patients (2 males and 5 females) were enrolled. All patients received PEG-J decompression therapy. The number of days with any abdominal symptoms in a month (NODASIM), body mass index (BMI), serum albumin level (Alb), and small intestinal volume before and after PEG-J were compared in all patients.

RESULTS

Percutaneous endoscopic gastro-jejunostomy was well tolerated and oral intake improved in all patients. NODASIM has significantly decreased (24.3 vs 9.3 days/months) and BMI/Alb have significantly increased (14.9 vs 17.2 kg/m² and 2.6 vs 3.8 g/dL, respectively), whereas total volume of the small intestine has not significantly reduced (4.05 vs 2.59 L, P=.18). Reflux esophagitis and chemical dermatitis were observed in one case but was successfully treated conservatively.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Percutaneous endoscopic gastro-jejunostomy decompression therapy can contribute greatly to improvement of abdominal symptoms and nutritional status in CIPO patients. Although sufficient attention should be paid to acid reflux symptoms, PEG-J has the potential to be a non-invasive novel decompression therapy for CIPO available at home. However, accumulation of more CIPO patients and long-term observation are needed (UMIN000017574).

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction: Clinical and Manometric Characteristics in the Chilean Population

Background/Aims

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare syndrome characterized by a failure of the propulsion of intraluminal contents and recurrent symptoms of partial bowel obstruction in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Regional variations of the intestinal compromise have been described. Intestinal manometry can indicate the pathophysiology and prognosis. Our objective is to establish the demographic and clinical characteristics of group Chilean patients and analyze the motility of the small intestine and its prognostic value.

Methods

Patients with symptoms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction with dilated bowel loops were included, in all of whom a manometry of the small intestine was performed using perfused catheters.

Results

Of the 64 patients included, 51 women (average age 41.5 ± 17.6 years), 54 primary and 10 secondary CIPO were included. Dilatation of the small intestine was the only finding in 38 patients; in the remaining, the compromise was associated with other segments, primarily the colon. Forty-nine patients underwent 65 surgeries, mainly exploratory laparotomies and colectomies. Intestinal manometry was performed on all patients; 4 "patterns" were observed: neuropathic (n = 26), myopathic (n = 3), mixed (n = 24), and a group without motor activity (n = 11). The most relevant findings were the complex migrating motor disorders and decreased frequency and propagation of contractions. The 9 patients who died had a severe myopathic compromise.

Conclusions

In our series, isolated small bowel compromise was the most common disorder. Neuropathic motor compromise was observed in most of the patients. Mortality was associated with severe myopathic compromise.

[Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction complicated by an eating disorder]

Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare and serious chronic disease starting in childhood, which can affect the entire digestive tract. It is caused by a peristalsis intestinal disorder that leads to occlusions without any obvious obstruction. Few studies have been carried out regarding the prognosis of this illness. This disease is often diagnosed by a process of elimination, but some histological anomalies have been present in the digestive wall of certain patients. This clinical case concerns a 17-year-old girl affected by CIPO and eating disorders. It seems difficult to discriminate between digestive disorders and eating disorders. What psychological effects can this severe pathology have? Are eating disorders induced by CIPO? These questions are raised in this article through the example of this patient's somatopsychic complexity and the ensuing difficulties in her overall care.

Dysmotility disorders: a nutritional approach

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) results in markedly compromised peristalsis mimicking an intestinal occlusion. The main goals of CIPO management are to improve intestinal propulsion and to maintain adequate nutrition status. The review describes the global management of CIPO including methods of diagnosis and nutritional, pharmacological and surgical therapies.

RECENT FINDINGS

The principles of CIPO management are to perform a physiological assessment of the gastrointestinal tract involved, to improve symptoms and to prevent malnutrition. We shall discuss the place of physiological motility tests such as intestinal manometry and the cine-magnetic resonance imaging to facilitate diagnosis. Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a frequently used therapy with a high dependence level. However, recent data are consistent with a good long-term prognosis. Currently, CIPO becomes a significant cause of chronic intestinal failure. We discuss the outcomes of HPN and surgery.

SUMMARY

CIPO is a rare and complex disease. Small bowel manometry remains a gold standard for diagnosis, but new imaging tools appear promising. The management of CIPO requires the cooperation of specialists involved in the intestinal failure field. The better knowledge of CIPO prognosis should encourage clinicians to propose intestinal transplantation in selected cases.

Clinical Features and Associated Factors of Abdominal Pain in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective.

To evaluate the clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-induced abdominal pain in a cohort in South China and identify the risk factors for SLE-induced abdominal pain.

Methods.

This is a retrospective cohort study of SLE patients with complaint of abdominal pain admitted to the first affiliated university hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 2002 and 2011. Demographic information, clinical features, laboratory findings, SLE Disease Activity Index, and imaging characteristics were documented.

Results.

Of the 3823 SLE patients reviewed, 213 patients complained of abdominal pain and 132 cases were considered SLE-induced. The most common causes were lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV; 73.5%, 97/132) and lupus pancreatitis (LP; 17.4%, 23/132). Other causes included appendicitis, acute gastroenteritis, and peritonitis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) score was significantly associated with lupus-induced abdominal pain (OR = 1.858, 95% CI: 1.441–2.394, p < 0.001), LMV (OR = 1.713, 95% CI: 1.308-2.244, p < 0.001), and LP (OR = 2.153, 95% CI: 1.282, 3.617, p = 0.004). The serum D-dimer level (OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.005, p < 0.001) was a strongly associated factor for lupus-induced abdominal pain. Moderate and large amounts of ascetic fluid was significantly associated with lupus-induced abdominal pain and LMV. Elevated liver enzymes was a risk factor for LP (OR = 34.605, 95% CI: 3.591-333.472, p = 0.002).

Conclusion.

LMV and LP were the leading causes of SLE-induced abdominal pain. The serum D-dimer was a strongly associated factor for lupus-induced abdominal pain. ECLAM score was a reliable index in assessment of SLE-associated abdominal pain. Elevated liver enzymes, and moderate or large amounts of ascites, were positively associated with lupus-induced abdominal pain.

Nutritional support in the severely compromised motility patient: when and how?

The management of CIPO remains difficult and requires a multidisciplinary approach. In adult patients with CIPO on HPN, the 10-year survival rate was 68%. Long-term HPN dependence does not seem to be associated with a significant increase in mortality and morbidity. HPN could be a safe and efficient approach to the management of intestinal failure caused by CIPO, with restoring oral intake and lowering hospitalization frequency as major goals of treatment.

Long-term outcome of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction adult patients requiring home parenteral nutrition

OBJECTIVES

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare, disabling disorder responsible for motility-related intestinal failure. Because it induces malnutrition, CIPO is a significant indication for home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The objective of the study was to evaluate long-term outcome of CIPO patients requiring HPN during adulthood.

METHODS

In total, 51 adult CIPO patients (18 men/33 women, median age at symptom occurrence 20 (0-74) years, 34/17 primary/secondary CIPO) followed up at our institution for HPN management between 1980 and 2006 were retrospectively studied for survival and HPN dependence rates using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Follow-up after diagnosis was 8.3 (0-29) years. Surgery was required in 84% of patients. The number of interventions was 3 +/- 3 per patient (mean +/- s.d.), leading to short bowel syndrome in 19 (37%) patients. Actuarial survival probability was 94, 78, 75, and 68% at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that lower mortality was associated with the ability to restore oral feeding at baseline (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.2 (0.06-0.65), P = 0.008) and symptom occurrence before the age of 20 years (HR=0.18 (0.04-0.88), P = 0.03). Higher mortality was associated with systemic sclerosis (HR=10.4 (1.6-67.9), P = 0.01). Actuarial HPN dependence was 94, 75, and 72% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of CIPO adult patients with severe intestinal failure, i.e., those requiring HPN, we found a higher survival probability than previously reported. These results should be taken into account when considering intestinal transplantation.