TY - JOUR T1 - Normal bowel function restored after oxygen therapy in systemic sclerosis and colonic inertia. JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1777 LP - 1778 VL - 34 IS - 8 AU - Lesley Ann Saketkoo AU - Luis R Espinoza Y1 - 2007/08/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/34/8/1777.abstract N2 - Colorectal involvement with obstructed defecation is a common complication of progressive systemic sclerosis (pSSc), compromising quality of life and placing patients at risk for life-threatening complications. Treatment for colonic inertia in these patients includes laxatives, prokinetics, and ultimately colectomy, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality in pSSc. We describe a woman with scleroderma and colonic inertia recommended for total abdominal colectomy. As a result of respiratory decompensation, she was placed on oxygen by nasal cannula, after which bowel motility with regularity was restored, obviating the need for colectomy. ER -