Abstract

ABSTRACT: Cisapride has been used in the treatment of chronic intestinal pseudo–obstruction with some success; however, the use of cisapride in the treatment of acute pseudo–obstruction has not been adequately studied. We describe a case of acute intestinal pseudo–obstruction successfully treated with cisapride. To our knowledge, this is the second such case reported in the English language literature. Our patient's acute intestinal pseudo–obstruction was probably precipitated by pneumonia and sepsis, and the prompt resolution of his intestinal pseudo–obstruction after initiation of cisapride therapy (despite progressive deterioration of his overall clinical status) implicates cisapride as the cause of the improved intestinal function. Therefore, we suggest that a trial of cisapride be considered for patients with acute intestinal pseudo–obstruction when other therapeutic maneuvers have failed.