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

A Rare Case of Chronic Small Bowel Pseudo-Obstruction

“…In adults, the median age of symptom onset is 17 years, with an estimated prevalence of 0.9 per 100,000 people and an average incidence of 0.23 per 100,000 people according to another Japanese survey [8,9]. CIPO is usually idiopathic in children, while in adults, approximately 60% of the cases are secondary to an underlying condition such as scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatopolymyositis, malignancy and amyloidosis [2,3]. Familial forms of CIPO, which may be inherited as autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked traits, have also been described [2].…”

“…Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare disease characterised by the inability of the intestinal tract to propel its contents, resulting in a clinical presentation very similar to intestinal obstruction, but in the absence of any obstructive lesion in the gut [1][2][3]. It can affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract, though the small bowel and large bowel are primarily involved [2].…”

“…Patients typically present with recurrent abdominal pain, abdominal distension, constipation and vomiting [1,2]. Diagnosis of CIPO is mainly clinical, complemented by a stepwise approach to exclude any lesion causing occlusion of the intestinal lumen [1][2][3]. The management of CIPO often involves nutritional support and symptomatic control [1][2][3][4].…”

“…Diagnosis of CIPO is mainly clinical, complemented by a stepwise approach to exclude any lesion causing occlusion of the intestinal lumen [1][2][3]. The management of CIPO often involves nutritional support and symptomatic control [1][2][3][4]. CIPO is an important cause of intestinal failure, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality [1].…”

“…CIPO is an important cause of intestinal failure, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality [1]. The low awareness of the disease among clinicians and the non-specific symptoms associated with the disease often lead to a delayed diagnosis and unnecessary surgery [1,3,5]. We present a case of a 68-year-old man diagnosed with chronic small bowel pseudoobstruction (and severe gastrointestinal dysmotility) resulting in intestinal failure.…”