Abstract
Background: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction is often treated by colonoscopic decompression. Efficacy, safety, and outcome of endoscopic decompression was assessed. Methods: Colonoscopic decompressions from 1988 to 1994 were reviewed. Resolution without further endoscopic intervention was defined as clinical success. Results: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction was diagnosed in 50 patients. Thirty-three cases followed surgery or trauma and 17 developed during severe medical illness. Orthopedic joint surgery was most common. Nineteen of 50 patients (38%) had severe underlying medical disease. Forty-one patients (82%) had one colonoscopic decompression with clinical success in 39 (95%). Nine patients (18%) required multiple (2 to 4) colonoscopic decompressions with clinical success in 5 (56%). A decompression tube positioned in the right colon (57%) and in the transverse colon (33%) had similar clinical success. In 8 procedures a decompression tube was not placed, with poor clinical success (25%). The overall clinical success of colonoscopic decompression was 88% (44 of 50). An endoscopic perforation occurred in 1 patient (2%). Overall hospital mortality was 30%. Conclusions: Colonoscopic decompression is effective and safe for acute colonic pseudo- obstruction that does not respond to conservative therapy. Most patients will respond to one colonoscopic decompression with decompression tube placement. Complete colonoscopy and cecal tube placement is unnecessary.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 144-150 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Gastrointestinal endoscopy |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Gastroenterology