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  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Use of neostigmine to relieve a suspected colonic pseudoobstruction in pregnancy

Abstract

Neostigmine is a treatment option for colonic pseudoobstruction. However, experience in using neostigmine for this indication in pregnant women is limited. We present a case of a woman with an estimated fetal gestational age of 34 weeks presented with what was believed to be a pseudoobstruction and when conservative management failed, neostigmine was administered with no adverse side effects. Ultimately, the patient was found to have a mechanical obstruction and we discuss the challenges in making this diagnosis in pregnancy. Neostigmine may be a viable alternative to colonoscopy in pregnant women for whom mechanical obstruction is properly excluded.

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Correspondence to M E Rausch.

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Rausch, M., Troiano, N. & Rosen, T. Use of neostigmine to relieve a suspected colonic pseudoobstruction in pregnancy. J Perinatol 27, 244–246 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211669

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211669

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