Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Postoperative ileus: a review.

Mirza K Baig1, Steven D Wexner

  • 1Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, Florida 33331, USA.

Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
|February 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Laparoscopic Versus Robotic Ventral Hernia Repair With Intraperitoneal Mesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing the Perioperative Outcomes Randomised Controlled Trials.

Journal of abdominal wall surgery : JAWS·2025
Same author

Short-term outcomes of surgical treatment for primary ileocaecal Crohn's disease: Results of the Crohn's(urg) study, a multicentre, retrospective, comparative analysis between inflammatory and complicated phenotypes.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·2024
Same author

Local vs radical resection of stage I-III rectal cancer in very elderly patients: an exact matched analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract·2024
Same author

Oncologic outcomes following transanal total mesorectal excision: the United States experience.

Surgical endoscopy·2024
Same author

Obesity and overweight are associated with worse survival in early-onset colorectal cancer.

Surgery·2024
Same author

Splenic flexure mobilization in left-sided colonic and rectal resections: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of factors associated with anastomotic leak and complications.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·2024
Same journal

A Penny for Your Thoughts.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2026
Same journal

June 2026 Translations.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2026
Same journal

Selected Abstracts.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2026
Same journal

Recurrence After Rectopexy: Insights From Magnetic Resonance Defecography.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2026
Same journal

Risk of Metabolic Disease After Right- vs Left-Sided Colectomy for Colon Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2026
Same journal

Sexual Distress Is Common in Long Term Follow-up After Pelvic Pouch for Ulcerative Colitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2026
See all related articles

Postoperative ileus, a prolonged bowel dysfunction, impacts recovery. Multifactorial in origin, it is best managed with combined approaches including limited narcotic use and thoracic epidurals.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Outcomes
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Postoperative ileus is a common complication characterized by prolonged inhibition of bowel activity.
  • Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and pain, often lasting days to weeks.
  • It significantly impacts patient recovery and hospital stay.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options for postoperative ileus.
  • To synthesize current understanding of this common surgical complication.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of relevant studies from 1965 to 2003.
  • Inclusion of both retrospective and prospective studies identified via MEDLINE database.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Postoperative ileus is multifactorial, with duration correlating to surgical trauma, especially after colonic surgery.
  • Treatment options vary, but study comparisons are limited by small sample sizes and diverse methodologies.
  • Despite limitations, some treatment conclusions can be drawn.

Conclusions:

  • Postoperative ileus remains a significant surgical problem, requiring multifactorial management.
  • Key strategies include limiting narcotic use, utilizing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and considering thoracic epidurals.
  • Selective nasogastric decompression and electrolyte correction are also important considerations.