[Pseudo-obstruction of the colon (Ogilvie's syndrome) and its significance in the differential diagnosis of ileus of the large intestine].

The authors submit an analysis of a group comprising 33 patients who were in the course of two years (1991-1992) hospitalized as emergency cases on account of ileus of the large bowel. All patients were subjected urgently in addition to a basic clinical examination and a native X-ray of abdomen also to irrigographic examination. On its basis in three patients the diagnosis of pseudoobstruction of the large intestine-Ogilvie's syndrome was established. These three patients were successfully treated by a conservative approach. The author summarizes data from the literature pertaining to this disease and confronts them with his own clinical observation. He draws attention to the fundamental importance of irrigography for the differential diagnosis in patients admitted with sings of obstruction of the colon.