Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare intestinal motility disorder characterized by nonspecific clinical manifestations that mimic mechanical intestinal obstruction but lack corroborative evidence of mechanical obstruction, leading to frequent underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis in clinical practice. Based on etiology, CIPO is classified into primary and secondary subtypes, with diagnosis relying on comprehensive evaluation integrating clinical presentation, imaging findings, gastrointestinal motility testing, and histopathological analysis. Owing to its complex pathogenesis and significant interindividual variability, CIPO currently lacks standardized diagnostic criteria and effective therapeutic strategies. Its management typically requires multidisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing patient education alongside integrated interventions including nutritional support, pharmacotherapy, endoscopic procedures, and surgeries when indicated. Recent advancements in gastrointestinal motility assessment and molecular biology techniques have facilitated improvements in CIPO diagnosis and treatment. This review summarizes current clinical advances in CIPO management to provide practical references for clinicians.