Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare gastrointestinal motility disorder characterized by recurring episodes resembling mechanical obstruction in the absence of organic, systemic, or ...

Symptoms

Patients commonly present with severe chronic "obstructive" symptoms: abdominal pain, distension/fullness, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea and/or intractable constipation, malabsorption of nutrients leading to weight loss and/or failure to thrive. Laboratory abnormalities usually reflect the degree of malabsorption and malnutrition. The radiological findings commonly include paralytic ileus or signs of apparent clinical obstruction with dilated loops of bowel. The regions of the gut affected may be isolated (small bowel involvement is the most typical) or diffuse, and sometimes other visceral musculature, such as the urinary bladder, is involved.

Causes

• Abdominal or pelvic surgery.
• Diseases that affect muscles and nerves, such as lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and Parkinson's disease.
• Infections.
• Medications, such as opiates and antidepressants, that affect muscles and nerves.
• Radiation to the abdomen.

More about Treatment

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare gastrointestinal motility disorder characterized by recurring episodes resembling mechanical obstruction in the absence of organic, systemic, or metabolic disorders, and without any physical obstruction being detected by X-ray or during surgery. CIPO develops predominantly in children and may be present at birth.

FAQ

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