Postoperative Ileus

Excerpt

Postoperative ileus is an abnormal pattern of slow or absent gastrointestinal motility in response to surgical procedures. Clinically, it is manifested by intolerance of oral intake and abdominal distention due to inhibition of the gastrointestinal propulsion without signs of mechanical obstruction. Generally, patients undergoing an abdominal surgical procedure will develop some degree of transient impairment of gastrointestinal motility. Often, this is an uncomplicated sequela with little consequence. Some surgeons consider it as a normal physiologic response of the intestine to surgery.

Prolonged impairment, however, can lead to several considerable impediments, including increased hospital stay, healthcare costs, and patient discomfort. It is estimated that the economic impact of postoperative ileus is approximately 750 million dollars annually in the United States alone. The significance of postoperative ileus is that it simulates other serious complications like bowel obstruction, and it delays recovery. Therefore, optimizing measures to prevent and/or treat it appropriately after excluding other complications is imperative to consider.