3. Ogilvie's Syndrome

Ogilvie's Syndrome

This PatientPlus article is written for healthcare professionals so the language may be more technical than the condition leaflets. You may find the abbreviations list helpful.

This is a syndrome of acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with massive dilation, usually of the colon, but also of the small intestine. Mechanical obstruction is absent and there is parasympathetic nerve dysfunction. It was first described by Sir William Ogilvie in 1948,[1] an English surgeon who was also an examiner for Oxbridge and wrote papers on fractures and hernias.

It is a relatively rare condition. Males are more commonly affected than females. It is more common in the elderly and in those with other illnesses - most commonly, renal failure and myocardial infarction.[2][3]

Risk factors

As above, presence of other medical conditions. In one series, 64% of cases were associated with comorbidity, 36% with trauma or surgery.[4] The most common operative procedure associated with Ogilvie's syndrome is coronary artery bypass grafting.

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain, usually cramping or colicky.
  • Bloated feeling.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Intermittent constipation.

Signs

  • Massive abdominal distension.
  • Normal, reduced or obstructed bowel sounds.
  • Minimal tenderness.
  • Empty, air-filled rectum on digital rectal examination.[9]
  • Full history - symptoms, drug history, previous surgery, past medical history and family history, psychiatric history, habits and normal diet.
  • Full examination - to identify other conditions and including digital rectal examination.[10]
  • Abdominal X-ray often shows massive dilation of the colon (megacolon) with caecal diameters measuring 10-14 cm.
  • Any chronic medical condition- see previously.
  • Surgery and trauma producing prolonged bedrest.

General measures

  • If possible, treat the cause.
  • Enable the patient to be mobile and, if possible, to exercise.
  • Advise adequate fluid intake.
  • Nasogastric tube to decompress the stomach and relieve vomiting.

Pharmacological

  • Antiemetic prokinetics, eg metoclopramide.
  • Intravenous (IV) fluids.
  • IV neostigmine has been used to give clinical decompression of the colon.[11]

Surgical

  • Decompression with flexible colonoscope.
  • Alternatively, gastrografin enema has been found to give good results. No complications needing surgery were found.[12]
  • Surgery, ie caecostomy or colostomy, is only indicated if conservative treatment fails and the risk of perforation is high.[13] There is a high (57%) mortality rate associated with surgery in Ogilvie's syndrome.[14] This is most likely to be due to the elderly, frail nature of the majority of the patients.

Perforation of the bowel wall is the main complication. This is associated with a 21% mortality rate.[15]

Patients avoiding surgery and perforation make good recovery generally, although recurrence is common.

  • Avoidance of bedrest.
  • Adequate hydration.
  • Avoidance of drugs which inhibit parasympathetic gastrointestinal muscle action.
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Further reading & references

  1. Ogilvie, H. Original description of syndrome. British Medical Journal, 1948;ii: 671-3
  2. Caves PK, Crockard HA; Pseudo-obstruction of the large bowel. Br Med J. 1970 Jun 6;2(5709):583-6.
  3. Sloyer AF, Panella VS, Demas BE, et al; Ogilvie's syndrome. Successful management without colonoscopy. Dig Dis Sci. 1988 Nov;33(11):1391-6.
  4. Catena F, Caira A, Ansaloni L, et al; Ogilvie's syndrome treatment. Acta Biomed Ateneo Parmense. 2003;74 Suppl 2:26-9.
  5. Mander R, Smith GD; A systematic review of medical diagnosis of Ogilvie's syndrome in childbearing. Midwifery. 2010 Dec;26(6):573-8. Epub 2008 Nov 18.
  6. Rawlings C; Management of postcaesarian Ogilvie's syndrome and their subsequent outcomes. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2010 Dec;50(6):573-4. doi:
  7. Dedemadi G, Georgoulis G; Clinical challenges and images in GI. Colonic pseudo-obstruction as a rare complication of herpes zoster. Gastroenterology. 2008 Aug;135(2):362, 715. Epub 2008 Jul 9.
  8. Edelman DA, Antaki F, Basson MD, et al; Ogilvie syndrome and herpes zoster: case report and review of the literature. J Emerg Med. 2010 Nov;39(5):696-700. Epub 2009 Mar 27.
  9. Vijay Naraynsingh; Ogilvie's Syndrome: The Rectal Balloon Sign, The Internet Journal of Surgery (2003)
  10. Tamhane U, Allen S, Maddens M; Pseudo-obstruction due to foreign body: importance of good physical examination. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 May;56(5):952-3.
  11. Stephenson BM, Morgan AR, Salaman JR, et al; Ogilvie's syndrome: a new approach to an old problem. Dis Colon Rectum. 1995 Apr;38(4):424-7.
  12. C.R. Schermer, J.J. Hanosh et al; Ogilvie's syndrome in the surgical patient: A new therapeutic modality, The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (1998)
  13. Georgescu EF, Vasile I, Georgescu AC; Intestinal pseudo-obstruction--a rare condition with heterogeneous etiology and unpredictable outcome. A case report. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2008 Mar;17(1):77-80.
  14. Tenofsky PL, Beamer L, Smith RS; Ogilvie syndrome as a postoperative complication. Arch Surg. 2000 Jun;135(6):682-6; discussion 686-7.
  15. Delgado-Aros S, Camilleri M; Pseudo-obstruction in the critically ill. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2003 Jun;17(3):427-44.
Original Author: Dr Hayley Willacy Current Version:
Last Checked: 20/04/2011 Document ID: 2539  Version: 22 © EMIS

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

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