Aim/background: Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (CIPO) and Berdon Syndrome (BS) are motility disorders with still unclear pathophysiology, and challenging diagnosis and management. Patient and methods. 26 patients (8M/18F) treated of CIPO (21) or BS (5) at our institution between 1982-2009 were retrospectively reviewed and clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and follow-up data were analyzed.
Results: 77% had a neonatal onset by the 3rd month of life (5 had a prenatal diagnosis of megacystis). Abdominal distension (87%), recurrent suboclusive episodes (70%) and malnourishment (60%) were the main symptoms followed by vomits, chronic diarrhea, constipation and dysfagia. The urinary tract was involved in 12 patients (46%): 8 had megacystis, 8 had vesicoureteral reflux. Arrythmias were seen in 2, deafness in 1, hydrocephalia in 1 and malrotation in 5. Radiological studies were consistent for CIPO in all of them: the disease was limited to the esophagus in 1, 3 had segmentary involvement of the small bowel, 6 had microcolon, and the rest had all the digestive tract involved. Anorectal manometry ruled out aganglionosis in 12, esophageal manometry showed aperistalsis in 9 and antro-duodenal manometry confirmed the diagnosis in 9 (visceral myopathy in 4 y neuropathy in 5). Rectal biopsies (16) and muscular biopsies (5) were normal in all of them. Full thickness biopsies (in 18, after surgery) showed myopathy in 12 and neuropathy in 6. Prokinetics and antibiotics for bacterial overgrowth were employed in 100%, 17 required long-time parenteral nutrition (PN), 21 required surgery and 7 were transplanted (4 isolated small bowel, 3 multivisceral). Symptoms improved in 9/15 with an ileostomy. 19 weaned from PN. After a median follow-up of 7.9 years (range 5m-17a), 3 were lost, 17/23 patients are alive and only 2 on home PN. Six died, 3 after being transplanted.
Conclusions: CIPO and/or BS have a wide clinical spectrum and a complex diagnosis; however, the knowledge of the disease and an appropriate treatment, generally aggressive, allows the patients with CIPO to enjoy a long-term acceptable quality of life.