Surreptitious Ipecac Administration Simulating Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction

Abstract

Brief Reports15 June 1989Surreptitious Ipecac Administration Simulating Intestinal Pseudo-ObstructionWilliam C. Santangelo, MD, James E. Richey, MD, Lydia Rivera, BS, John S. Fordtran, MDWilliam C. Santangelo, MDSearch for more papers by this author, James E. Richey, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Lydia Rivera, BSSearch for more papers by this author, John S. Fordtran, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-110-12-1031 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSurreptitious administration of ipecac, presumably by a mother to her mentally retarded son, caused an illness that resembled intestinal pseudo-obstruction.Case ReportAn 18-year-old white man with modest mental retardation due to pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism was referred to Baylor Hospital in June 1988 for evaluation of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Until age 15 he attended school for the handicapped and participated in Boy Scouts. He then developed difficulty in urinating (and ultimately required daily catheterization), vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence. After several evaluations at different medical centers, a diagnosis of intestinal pseudo-obstruction was made. A feeding gastrostomy was placed with...