Síndrome de Ogilvie. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura médica

We present a case of acute idiopathic dilatation of the colon -Ogilvie's syndrome- in an elderly patient. This not infrequent clinical entity is characterized by marked dilatation of the colon in the absence of demonstrable intestinal obstruction, and is usually associated with severe medical or surgical disease, especially after obstetric, orthopaedic or urologic surgery. Diagnosis is established by clinical history, physical examination and radiological findings. Management includes medical measures and occasionally endoscopic colonic decompression and/or surgery to avoid perforation of the cecum, the most serious complication.