Publication:

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction: Ogilvie syndrome

Colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie’s syndrome) is a functional disorder in which the colon becomes massively dilated in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Pseudoobstruction most commonly occurs in hospitalized patients and is associated with the use of narcotics, bed rest, and comorbid disease. Pseudoobstruction is thought to result from autonomic dysfunction and severe adynamic ileus. The diagnosis is made based on the presence of massive dilatation of the colon (usually predominantly the right and transverse colon) in the absence of a mechanical obstruction.