An obstruction not to forget: Pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome): Single center experience

Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie's Syndrome) after Hip Arthroplasty

Ogilvie's syndrome is a clinical entity that occurs with signs of excessive dilatation of the colon and obstruction, despite the absence of a mechanical obstruction. Although its etiology remains uncertain, anticholinergic drugs, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism, Parkinson's disease, major orthopedic interventions, or blunt abdominal trauma are considered to be possible causes. Imbalance in sympathetic innervation plays a role in the pathogenesis. The characteristic feature of the syndrome is the presence of a major trauma or surgical history. Although this is an uncommon complication, especially after hip and knee arthroplasty, it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Conservative or surgical colonic decompression and anticholinergic agents play a role in the treatment of Ogilvie's syndrome, which is defined as acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO). In this case report, we present the postoperative process of an elderly patient with comorbid diseases who underwent hemiarthroplasty due to a hip fracture as a result of a domestic fall. We will discuss the diagnosis of ACPO and the approach to multidisciplinary management of the treatment in a case that is frequently encountered in daily practice and starts as a normal report. We aim to remind surgeons that they may encounter ACPO in the postoperative period and to emphasize that mortality and morbidity can be reduced with early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach. We would like to emphasize that Ogilvie's syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis portfolio of all orthopedic surgeons.

Secretory diarrhea and hypokalemia associated with colonic pseudo-obstruction: A case study and systematic analysis of the literature

BACKGROUND

Colonic pseudo-obstruction (CPO) is characterized by colonic distention in the absence of mechanical obstruction or toxic megacolon. Concomitant secretory diarrhea (SD) with hypokalemia (SD-CPO) due to gastrointestinal (GI) loss requires further characterization.

AIM

To perform a systematic review of SD-CPO, report a case study, and compare SD-CPO with classical CPO (C-CPO).

METHODS

We performed a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus for reports based on a priori criteria for CPO, SD and GI loss of potassium. An additional case at Mayo Clinic was included.

RESULTS

Nine publications met inclusion criteria, with a total of 14 cases. Six studies had high, three moderate, and our case high methodological quality. Median age was 74 years (66-97), with 2:1 male/female ratio. Kidney disease was present in 6/14 patients. Diarrhea was described as profuse, watery, or viscous in 10 patients. Median serum, stool, and urine potassium concentrations (mmol/L) were 2.4 (range: 1.9-3.1), 137 (100-180), and 17 (8-40), respectively. Maximal diameter of colon and cecum (median) were 10.2 cm and 10.5 cm, respectively. Conservative therapy alone was effective in five out of 14 patients. Median potassium supplementation was 124 mEq/d (40-300). Colonic decompression was effective in three out of six patients; one had a total colectomy; three out of 14 had died. The main differences between SD-CPO and C-CPO were lower responses to treatments: conservative measures (35.7% vs 73.6%, P=.01), neostigmine (17% vs 89.2%, P<.001), and colonic decompression (50% vs 82.4%, P=.02).

CONCLUSION

SD-CPO is a rare phenotype associated with increased fecal potassium and is more difficult to treat than C-CPO.