Intestinal pseudo-obstruction refers to a syndrome in which the clinical picture resembles that of bowel obstruction, with failure of intestinal motility associated with pain and intestinal distension, but absence of a mechanical obstructing lesion.

The situation arises acutely in some patients admitted to hospital with non-gastrointestinal disorders (Ogilvie's syndrome), such as myocardial infarction, pneumonia, or fractured hip. Typically there is acute colonic dilatation, with pain and abdominal distension. The condition is thought to be due to an imbalance of extrinsic autonomic nerves innervating the gut, with excessive sympathetic inhibitory activity or diminished prokinetic cholinergic drive. The condition can be managed by colonic decompression, either colonoscopically …