Visceral Mobilization Therapy for Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Following Enterocutaneous Fistula Reconstruction: A...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and surgical rehabilitation

Background:

• Abdominal surgery frequently leads to gastrointestinal disorders due to adhesions.
• Visceral mobilization has shown promise in animal models for preventing adhesions, but human studies are limited.
• This case report explores the effectiveness of manual therapy in preventing adhesive bowel disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of visceral mobilization in preventing adhesive bowel disorder following abdominal surgery.
• To provide preliminary evidence for future research on manual therapy for post-operative gastrointestinal complications.

Main Methods:

• A case study of a 23-year-old male who underwent abdominal surgery for an enterocutaneous fistula.
• Post-operative treatment included visceral mobilization and breathing exercises from day 1 to day 6.
• Assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms, constipation, and quality of life using standardized scales (GSRS, CAS, VAS, GIQLI).

Main Results:

• The patient experienced notable improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms and constipation post-treatment.
• Significant improvements were observed in GSRS, CAS, VAS, and GIQLI scores during follow-up.
• Visceral mobilization demonstrated efficacy in early operative days and long-term follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Visceral mobilization is an effective intervention for improving gastrointestinal and constipation symptoms after abdominal surgery.
• The treatment also led to a significant enhancement in the patient's health-related quality of life.
• This case highlights the potential of visceral mobilization as a component of post-operative rehabilitation.