Post-Colectomy Abdominal Distension: Could It Be Clostridioides difficile Enteritis?
Fulminant Clostridioides difficile Enteritis: A Rare Postoperative Catastrophe Every Radiologist Should Recognize Introduction When clinicians think about Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the colon is usually considered the primary target organ. However, an increasingly recognized yet frequently overlooked manifestation is Clostridioides difficile enteritis involving the small bowel. Although rare, this disease carries substantial morbidity and mortality. Published literature suggests mortality rates approaching 30% in reported cases. Patients with previous total colectomy represent a particularly vulnerable population. The case presented in the accompanying article highlights a 74-year-old woman who developed fulminant C. difficile enteritis following ileostomy reversal after previous total colectomy. Her clinical deterioration was dramatic, progressing rapidly to shock physiology and requiring emergency intervention. Fortunately, prompt diagnosis and treatment resulted...
