Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction with Feeding Intolerance in Critically Ill Patients: A Study according to Gut Wall Analysis

Abstract EN

Objective.

To compare the differences between acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) with and without acute gut wall thickening.

Methods.

ACPO patients with feeding tolerance were divided into ACPO with no obvious gut wall thickening (ACPO-NT) group and ACPO with obvious acute gut wall thickening (ACPO-T) group according to computed tomography and abdominal radiographs.

Patients’ condition, responses to supportive measures, pharmacologic therapy, endoscopic decompression, and surgeries and outcomes were compared.

Results.

Patients in ACPO-T group had a significantly higher APACHE II (11.82 versus 8.25, p=0.008) and SOFA scores (6.47 versus 3.54, p<0.001) and a significantly higher 28-day mortality (17.78% versus 4.16%, p=0.032) and longer intensive care unit stage (4 versus 16 d, p<0.001).

Patients in ACPO-NT group were more likely to be responsive to supportive treatment (62.50% versus 24.44%, p<0.001), neostigmine (77.78% versus 17.64%, p<0.001), and colonoscopic decompression (75% versus 42.86%, p=0.318) than those in ACPO-T group.

Of the patients who underwent ileostomy, 81.25% gained benefits.

Conclusions.

ACPO patients with gut wall thickening are more severe and are less likely to be responsive to nonsurgical treatment.

Ileostomy may be a good option for ACPO patients with gut wall thickening who are irresponsive to nonsurgical treatment.