International journal of colorectal disease
-
Int J Colorectal Dis · Sep 2003
Case ReportsNeutropenic enterocolitis: is it possible to break vicious circle between neutropenia and the bowel wall inflammation by surgery?
Neutropenic enterocolitis is a devastating bowel wall inflammation in patients with protracted neutropenia. The approach for diagnosis and treatment is still controversial, and it is difficult and challenging to decide on what should be the next step in the management. ⋯ Retrospective analysis of the long-term follow-up of our patient suggests that defunctioning the colon by ileostomy breaks the vicious circle between neutropenia and bowel wall inflammation, and an early surgical intervention could be considered as an adjunctive approach to the conservative management of persistent cases.