Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: update, literature review, and report of six cases.

Six cases of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) are reported, Age at symptom onset ranged from a few days to two years nine months, Exploratory laparotomy was done in every case, and four patients required a diversion procedure with construction of a stoma. Long-term continuous or intermittent total parenteral nutrition was-used in every case. Three patients recovered, one still needs nocturnal parenteral nutrition, and two died, In the literature, cases of CIPO are classified as neonatal or delayed and as primary or secondary. Neonates accounted for about half the reported cases, and most developed clear evidence of intestinal obstruction, Delayed forms were not always as straightforward, since some gave rise to minor symptoms such as constipation or abdominal pain. Histologic studies of the gut wall showed either neuropathy or myopathy. CIPO is a condition with a protracted course punctuated by numerous complications induced either by the gut abnormality itself or by its treatment.