To summary the risk factors, clinical characteristics and treatment of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) after cesarean section(CS).

The case group enrolled 11 patients who were diagnosed with ACPO after cesarean section in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2006 to January 2018. Another 55 patients without ACPO after CS, performed within two weeks' difference from the case group, were randomly selected as the control group. Clinical data of all subjects were analyzed retrospectively. Potential clinical risk factors were statistically analyzed. T test, Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

In the case group, the abdominal distension presented on 2 d (n=1), 3 d (n=7), 4 d (n=2) and 17 d (n=1) respectively after CS, and all cases experienced abdominal pain and nausea. Vomiting was reported in some cases. Plain abdominal X-ray images revealed pneumocolon with colon pouch. The maximum diameter of cecum was 6 to 12 cm. Air-liquid levels were observed in two patients. All patients underwent fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, intravenous fluid infusion, correction of electrolyte imbalance, hypertonic saline enema and prophylactic antibiotic treatment. The disease condition lasted two to six days in these patients. Conservative treatment was successful in eight patients and failed in the other three who later went for operations. The maximum cecal diameters in the three patients who underwent surgery were all ≥9 cm, among whom one case progressed quickly and laparotomy was tempted to rule out mechanical intestinal obstruction. In this case, the pressure was successfully reduced by placing a thoracic catheter through the anus after the failure of intestinal puncture trying to release the gases. One patient underwent colostomy due to positive signs of peritoneal irritation after a failure of four-day conservative treatment. One patient suffered a relapse after having been treated conservatively for five days, and then underwent surgeries of resection of ileocecum, distal closure of the colon ascendens plus terminal ileostomy due to intestinal perforation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher postoperative leukocyte count (OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.12-1.71, P=0.003) and postoperative body temperature >38 ℃ (OR=6.47, 95%CI: 1.06-39.61, P=0.044) were the risk factors for ACPO after CS.

Elevated leukocyte count and body temperature >38 ℃ were two high-risk factors for ACPO after CS. ACPO is characterized by acute onset, and the first choice is conservative management. Active surgical treatment would be required if conservative treatment fails, especially when the maximum diameter of the cecum is ≥ 9 cm, which may increase the incidence of intestinal necrosis or perforation.

Cesarean section; Postoperative complications; Colonic pseudo-obstruction; Intestinal perforation