Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) in patients with cystic fibrosis after lung transplantation.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest inherited life-threatening disease in Caucasians. With increased longevity, more patients with CF are developing gastrointestinal complications including the distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), in which ileocecal obstruction is caused by viscid mucofeculent material. The optimal management of DIOS is uncertain.

Methods: The medical records of all patients with CF who underwent lung transplantation at this institution during a 15-year period were reviewed. The definition of DIOS required the presence of both clinical and radiological features of ileocecal obstruction.

Results: One hundred twenty-one patients with CF underwent lung transplantation during the study period. During a minimum 2-year follow-up, there were 17 episodes of DIOS in 13 (10.7%) patients. The development of DIOS was significantly associated with a past history of meconium ileus (odds ratio 20.7, 95% C.I. 5.09-83.9) or previous laparotomy (odds ratio 4.93, 95% C.I. 1.47-16.6). All six patients who developed DIOS during the transplantation admission had meconium ileus during infancy, and five had undergone pretransplant laparotomy for CF complications. First-line treatment for all patients was a combination of medication (laxatives, stool softeners, and bowel preparation formulas). This was successful in 14 of the 17 DIOS but needed to be given for up to 14 days. The other three patients required laparotomy with enterotomy and fecal disimpaction. This provided definitive resolution of DIOS except in one patient who presented late and died despite ileal decompression and ileostomy.

Conclusions: DIOS occurred in approximately 10% of CF patients after lung transplantation. Patients with a history of meconium ileus or previous laparotomy are at high risk of developing DIOS. Patients with DIOS require early aggressive management with timely laparotomy with enterotomy and possible stoma formation when non-operative therapy is unsuccessful.