Three new cases are presented of a recently described entity of idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. All the patients were young females who had undergone multiple laparotomies for suspected mechanical intestinal obstruction. Extensive clinical and histologic examinations failed to reveal a systemic cause.The diagnosis of idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction currently remains one of exclusion.A diagnostic approach to the patient with recurrent intestinal pseudo-obstruction is presented.