Article Text
Abstract
We describe a case of a 46-year-old man with schizophrenia treated with clozapine who presented as an emergency with abdominal pain on the background of a 1 month history of constipation. The initial presenting symptoms were vague and a diagnosis was difficult to establish. Initial CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated only minor abnormalities. He continued to deteriorate until a further CT scan revealed worsening stercoral colitis. He subsequently underwent an emergency total colectomy and ileostomy formation and had a complicated prolonged postoperative recovery. This case highlights the risks that clozapine can have on slowing bowel transit and the dangerous consequences that can occur if not identified early.
- gastrointestinal surgery
- schizophrenia
- drugs: psychiatry
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Footnotes
Contributors JG: constructing and editing the manuscript, editing images. RH: constructing and editing the manuscript. WM: editing and attaining images. KC: concept design, proofing.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Obtained.
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