Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (873 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Functional obstruction of the colon leading to megacolon in the absence of obvious colonic diseases or mechanical obstruction. When this condition is acquired, acute, and coexisting with another medical condition (trauma, surgery, serious injuries or illness, or medication), it is called Ogilvie's syndrome.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Colonic Pseudo Obstruction; Pseudo-Obstruction, Colonic; Pseudoobstruction, Colonic; Colonic Pseudoobstruction; Ogilvie Syndrome; Syndrome, Ogilvie; Ogilvie Disease; Ogilvie's Syndrome.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Colonic Diseases, Functional; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 785 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 80 of them (10.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 299 records.
Reviews account for 116 records (14.8%) and meta-analyses for 1. Randomized controlled trials number 7 (0.9%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 299 |
| 2000-2009 | 209 |
| 2010-2019 | 197 |
| 2020 onward | 80 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 116 | 14.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 1 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 7 | 0.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in digestive system and liver
Gut and liver research ranges from laboratory studies of the microbiome to large trials of drugs and surgery. Symptoms such as pain, reflux or bowel change are reported by patients and overlap between conditions, and diet and microbiome studies are mostly observational. Check whether the study measured symptoms, tissue findings or long-term outcomes, how the diagnosis was made and how long people were followed. Nothing here replaces advice from a qualified clinician.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of prucalopride in patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction--a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, multiple n = 1 study [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundChronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a disabling condition for which there are no established drug therapies.
- Closing excerpt
- Prucalopride relieves symptoms in selected patients with chronic pseudo-obstruction.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (214 words)
BackgroundChronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a disabling condition for which there are no established drug therapies. The condition is caused by a diverse range of intestinal myopathies and neuropathies.AimTo assess the therapeutic efficacy of prucalopride, a selective high-affinity 5-HT(4) receptor agonist, we employed a multiple n = 1 study design. Each patient acted as his/her own control, each day counting as one treatment episode, allowing comparison of 168 days on each of active drug and placebo.MethodsDouble-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of four 12-week treatment periods, with 2-4 mg prucalopride or placebo daily. In each of the first and second 6 months there was a prucalopride and a placebo treatment. Patients with proven chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, including dilated gut, were included. Evaluation was by patient diary and global evaluation.ResultsSeven patients participated (mean 42 years, five female, median symptom duration 11 years). Three discontinued, two due to study length, and one on prucalopride due to unrelated malnutrition and bronchopneumonia. Four patients (three visceral myopathy and one visceral neuropathy) completed the study; prucalopride significantly improved pain in three of four patients, nausea in two, vomiting in one, bloating in four and analgesic intake. Bowel function was not changed substantially.Conclusionsn = 1 studies in rare conditions allow drug efficacy assessment. Prucalopride relieves symptoms in selected patients with chronic pseudo-obstruction.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 22061077 · DOI · PMC3298655
Inducible Deletion of YAP and TAZ in Adult Mouse Smooth Muscle Causes Rapid and Lethal Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background & aimsYAP (Yap1) and TAZ (Wwtr1) are transcriptional co-activators and downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, which play crucial roles in organ size control and cancer pathogenesis.
- Closing excerpt
- The knockout model has features of human chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and may be useful for studying this disease.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (212 words)
Background & aimsYAP (Yap1) and TAZ (Wwtr1) are transcriptional co-activators and downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, which play crucial roles in organ size control and cancer pathogenesis. Genetic deletion of YAP/TAZ has shown their critical importance for embryonic development of the heart, vasculature, and gastrointestinal mesenchyme. The aim of this study was to determine the functional role of YAP/TAZ in adult smooth muscle cells in vivo.MethodsBecause YAP and TAZ are mutually redundant, we used YAP/TAZ double-floxed mice crossed with mice that express tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 recombinase driven by the smooth muscle-specific myosin heavy chain promoter.ResultsDouble-knockout of YAP/TAZ in adult smooth muscle causes lethality within 2 weeks, mainly owing to colonic pseudo-obstruction, characterized by severe distension and fecal impaction. RNA sequencing in colon and urinary bladder showed that smooth muscle markers and muscarinic receptors were down-regulated in the YAP/TAZ knockout. The same transcripts also correlated with YAP/TAZ in the human colon. Myograph experiments showed reduced contractility to depolarization by potassium chloride and a nearly abolished muscarinic contraction and spontaneous activity in colon rings of YAP/TAZ knockout.ConclusionsYAP and TAZ in smooth muscle are guardians of colonic contractility and control expression of contractile proteins and muscarinic receptors. The knockout model has features of human chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and may be useful for studying this disease.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32992050 · DOI · PMC7806867
Percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy for management of Ogilvie's syndrome: a case series and literature review with an update on current guidelines (with video) [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionPercutaneous endoscopic cecostomy (PEC) is a viable treatment option for patients with persistent or recurrent acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO; Ogilvie's syndrome).
- Closing excerpt
- Furthermore, the availability of guideline resources now offers comprehensive guidance for informed decision-making and the procedural aspects.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (210 words)
IntroductionPercutaneous endoscopic cecostomy (PEC) is a viable treatment option for patients with persistent or recurrent acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO; Ogilvie's syndrome). It should be generally considered in patients that are refractory to pharmacologic and endoscopic decompression, especially those not amenable to surgical intervention due to an increased perioperative risk. Physicians are rather unfamiliar with this approach given the limited number of reports in the literature and paucity of guideline resources, although guidelines concerning ACPO and covering the role of endoscopy were recently published by three major expert societies, all within the last 2 years.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively identified three consecutive patients who underwent PEC placement at a Czech tertiary referral center between May 2018 and December 2021: all for recurrent ACPO. In addition, we summarized the current guidelines in order to present the latest knowledge related both to the procedure and management approach in patients with ACPO.ResultsThe placement of PEC was successful and resulted in clinical improvement in all cases without any adverse events.ConclusionThe results of our experience are in line with previous reports and suggest that PEC may become a very useful tool in the armamentarium of modalities utilized to treat ACPO. Furthermore, the availability of guideline resources now offers comprehensive guidance for informed decision-making and the procedural aspects.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37500922 · DOI · PMC10519870
Management of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction: opportunities to improve care? [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundAcute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a functional bowel obstruction characterised by colonic dilatation in the absence of mechanical obstruction on imaging.
- Closing excerpt
- Further work is needed to optimise management.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (237 words)
BackgroundAcute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a functional bowel obstruction characterised by colonic dilatation in the absence of mechanical obstruction on imaging. Complications include bowel ischaemia, perforation and death. The aim of this study was to explore outcomes for patients treated for ACPO and to assess adherence to current ACPO treatment guidelines.MethodsThis is a retrospective service evaluation and included patients with a diagnosis of ACPO between 1 March 2018 and 31 March 2023. Process measures were identified following discussion with the clinical team from published guidance. Patients were identified using clinical coding and radiological text reports. Cases were eligible for inclusion if they had radiologically confirmed ACPO. Data were collected following review of patient notes into Microsoft Excel. Descriptive analysis was performed with no formal statistical assessment.ResultsA total of 45 patients were identified, of whom 13 were admitted under general surgery. All patients received admission bloods (n=45). Nearly all patients had computed tomography imaging (43/45, 96%). Only 3/45 (6.7%) of the patients received optimal conservative management (intravenous infusion, nil by mouth, flatus tube, treatment of reversible causes). In all, 11/45 (24%) required further treatment, of whom 7 received this within 72 h. The leading (11/45) complication following diagnosis of ACPO was hospital-acquired pneumonia. Mortality was seen in 9/45.ConclusionsACPO is often managed remotely by general surgeons. This may impact on the quality of conservative management, and timeliness of endoscopic or pharmacological intervention. Further work is needed to optimise management.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38445579 · DOI · PMC11785443
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Systematic review: acute colonic pseudo-obstruction [5]
- Research article The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Colonic Volvulus and Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction [6]
- Research article American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on the role of endoscopy in the management of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction and colonic volvulus [7]
- Research article Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction: A systematic review of aetiology and mechanisms [8]
- Research article Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction [9]
- Research article The role of endoscopy in the management of patients with known and suspected colonic obstruction and pseudo-obstruction [10]
References
- Emmanuel AV, Kamm MA, Roy AJ, Kerstens R, Vandeplassche L. Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of prucalopride in patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction--a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, multiple n = 1 study. . 2012. PMID 22061077 · DOI · PMC3298655
- Daoud F, Holmberg J, Alajbegovic A, Grossi M, Rippe C, Swärd K, et al.. Inducible Deletion of YAP and TAZ in Adult Mouse Smooth Muscle Causes Rapid and Lethal Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction. . 2021. PMID 32992050 · DOI · PMC7806867
- Vanek P, Urban O, Falt P. Percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy for management of Ogilvie's syndrome: a case series and literature review with an update on current guidelines (with video). . 2023. PMID 37500922 · DOI · PMC10519870
- Khan Z, Challand CP, Lee MJ. Management of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction: opportunities to improve care?. . 2025. PMID 38445579 · DOI · PMC11785443
- Saunders MD, Kimmey MB. Systematic review: acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005. PMID 16268965 · DOI
- Alavi K, Poylin V, Davids JS, Patel SV, Felder S, Valente MA, et al.. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Colonic Volvulus and Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction. Dis Colon Rectum. 2021. PMID 34016826 · DOI
- Naveed M, Jamil LH, Fujii-Lau LL, Al-Haddad M, Buxbaum JL, Fishman DS, et al.. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on the role of endoscopy in the management of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction and colonic volvulus. Gastrointest Endosc. 2020. PMID 31791596 · DOI
- Wells CI, O'Grady G, Bissett IP. Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction: A systematic review of aetiology and mechanisms. World J Gastroenterol. 2017. PMID 28852322 · DOI · PMC5558126
- De Giorgio R, Knowles CH. Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. Br J Surg. 2009. PMID 19224517 · DOI
- ASGE Standards of Practice Committee, Harrison ME, Anderson MA, Appalaneni V, Banerjee S, Ben-Menachem T, et al.. The role of endoscopy in the management of patients with known and suspected colonic obstruction and pseudo-obstruction. Gastrointest Endosc. 2010. PMID 20363408 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.