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Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction

The Digestive Health Center offers a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

Conditions Treated

  • Myopathy
  • Neuropathy

Testing Options

  • ANNA-1/anti-Hu (when paraneoplastic syndrome is suspected)
  • Brain imaging (leukoencephalopathy in cases of CIPO related to MNGIE)
  • Chest CT
  • Contrast follow-through study (SB dilation/small bowel diverticulosis, pneumatosis intestinalis)
  • CTE (excludes organic causes of mechanical obstruction)
  • EGD with small bowel biopsies
  • Excretory urograms
  • KUB (air-fluid levels on plain X-ray abdominal films)
  • Labs:
    • Albumin
    • ANA
    • CBC
    • CRP
    • ESR
    • Glucose
    • Liver enzymes
    • TSH
    • Vitamin B12
  • Lactic acid (at rest and during exercise) and genetic analysis

Treatment Options

  • Adequate caloric intake - feeding tube/TPN, dietician, nutrition specialist
  • Promote motility (erythromycin)
  • Treat SIBO and intractable pain

Care Team

Physician, Internal Medicine