Enterocolitis-Associated Pseudo-Obstruction in a Sickle Cell Patient: A Rare Abdominal Catastrophe

TL;DR

A 14-year-old sickle cell patient experienced severe abdominal issues due to a rare condition involving colonic pseudo-obstruction and enterocolitis, successfully managed without surgery.

Contribution

Highlights a rare case of enterocolitis-associated pseudo-obstruction in a sickle cell patient, emphasizing multidisciplinary management and infection screening.

Findings

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction was confirmed in a sickle cell patient with enterocolitis.

Nonoperative management with decompression, antibiotics, and prokinetics led to improvement.

Multidisciplinary evaluation avoided unnecessary surgery and improved outcomes.

Abstract

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, also known as Ogilvie’s syndrome, is a rare but critical cause of abdominal pain and distension, potentially mimicking mechanical obstruction or toxic megacolon. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have additional risk factors such as vaso-occlusive crises, chronic hemolysis, and susceptibility to infections, which further complicate diagnosis. We report the case of a 14-year-old male patient with SCD who presented with severe generalized abdominal pain, vomiting, and progressive distension with no fever. Imaging revealed significant colonic dilation and pneumatosis, suggesting pseudo-obstruction or ischemic bowel. Infectious evaluations ultimately identified enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Despite initial concern for toxic megacolon, a multidisciplinary evaluation by hematology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, and surgery confirmed acute colonic pseudo-obstruction associated with enterocolitis. The patient’s condition was managed nonoperatively with nasogastric decompression, intravenous antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, and prokinetic agents. Serial imaging demonstrated gradual improvement in colonic distension, facilitating a safe return to oral feeding and subsequent discharge. This case underscores the importance of early recognition of enterocolitis-associated colonic pseudo-obstruction in patients with SCD, highlighting the value of comprehensive infection screening and a careful, multidisciplinary management approach to avoid unnecessary surgery and improve outcomes.

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