Obstruction of large intestine

Etiology

  • Mechanical colonic obstruction, eg, malignancy, diverticulitis, volvulus, fecal impaction
  • Toxic megacolon due to inflammatory bowel disease or C. difficile colitis
  • Megacolon due to Chagas’ disease, Hirschsprung’s disease (aganglionic), multiple sclerosis, sacral nerve damage, myxedema (hypothyroidism)
  • Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
  • Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie’s syndrome), associated with:
    • Trauma, burns, or postoperative
    • Respiratory failure
    • Malignancy
    • Myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure (CHF)
    • Pancreatitis
    • Stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage
    • Intestinal ischemia
    • Drugs, eg, opioids, anticholinergics

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Last updated: December 1, 2014