bubble_chart Overview

Neurogenic intestinal obstruction, also known as spastic intestinal obstruction, functional intestinal obstruction, dynamic intestinal obstruction, or Chercherski's disease, was first described by the Soviet physician Chercherski, hence it is also called Chercherski's disease. A few cases have been reported in China, but in reality, this condition is not uncommon.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

Neurogenic intestinal obstruction can be divided into

1. paralytic, where the peristaltic ability is lost due to inhibition of the intestinal wall muscle movement, preventing the contents from moving downward, seen in acute diffuse peritonitis, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, or infection.
2. spastic, where the intestinal wall muscles contract violently, often due to trauma, inflammation, foreign bodies, or other stimuli inside or outside the intestinal cavity.

Paralytic intestinal obstruction presents with mild abdominal pain, mainly characterized by the absence of bowel movements or gas passage, severe abdominal distension and fullness, which may lead to rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and oliguria. In the early stages of intestinal obstruction, there may be no systemic symptoms, but with repeated vomiting, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can occur. In paralytic intestinal obstruction, borborygmi are extremely weakened or absent.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

By taking a detailed medical history and conducting a physical examination, most diagnoses are not difficult. In cases where diagnosis is challenging, abdominal X-ray fluoroscopy or radiography can be performed. If gas and fluid levels are observed in the small intestine, it indicates an obstruction to the passage of intestinal contents, suggesting the possibility of intestinal obstruction. However, in the early stages of this disease, there may be no obvious X-ray signs of intestinal obstruction, so special vigilance is required. Therefore, the diagnosis of this disease is primarily based on clinical manifestations and should never rely solely on X-ray findings to confirm or rule out the condition.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

The key points of treatment are to correct the imbalances of water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance caused by intestinal obstruction, perform gastrointestinal decompression to alleviate abdominal distension and fullness, improve blood circulation in the proximal intestinal segments, and control infection. Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture therapy have certain therapeutic effects.