[Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon--significance of colonoscopy for diagnosis and therapy].

Acute colonic pseudoobstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) predominantly involves elderly patients with serious underlying diseases and is defined by massive colonic distention without mechanical obstruction. Therapy of choice included surgical cecostomy with a mortality rate of over 30 percent. Fiberoptic coloscopy provides a new effective treatment modality for colonic decompression. We discuss the cases of 8 patients with Ogilvie's syndrome, who were successfully treated by colonoscopic decompression. Special guidelines for successful and safe performance of the procedure are suggested.