[Can "internal intestinal splinting" prevent ileus recurrence? Results of a retrospective comparative study]

The high rate of recurrence after the treatment of adhesive obstruction demands special prophylactic treatment. In a 13-year period, 52 out of 95 patients with major adhesions were provided with a long nasointestinal tube for intestinal splinting intraoperatively. The was being left in situ on an average of 6.6 days. After an observation period of at least 36 months a recurrence was seen in 2 of these 52 patients (3.9%; causes: volvulus after 6 months/fibrinous peritonitis on the 6th postoperative day). Amongst the 43 'non-splinted' patients, recurrence of adhesive obstruction was documented in 8 cases (18.6%; causes: adhesions after 0.3-136.9 months). In the course of after-care abdominal complaints were significantly fewer in patients who had been splinted. Complications concerning the nasointestinal tubes did not occur. The rate of perioperative complications was similar in both groups.