ILEUS also known as paralytic ileus is a temporary arrest of intestinal peristalsis.

It occurs most commonly after abdominal surgery, particularly when the intestines have been manipulated.
Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, and vague abdominal discomfort.

Diagnosis is based on xray findings and clinical impression. Treatment is supportive, with nasogastric suction and IV fluids.

Etiology
In addition to postoperative causes, ileus also results from intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal inflammation (eg, appendicitis, diverticulitis, perforated duodenal ulcer),
retroperitoneal or intraabdominal hematomas (eg, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, lumbar compression fracture), metabolic disturbances (eg, hypokalemia), or
drugs (eg, opioids, anticholinergics, sometimes Ca channel blockers).
Ileus sometimes occurs in association with renal or thoracic disease (eg, lower rib fractures, lower lobe pneumonias, MI).

Gastric and colonic motility disturbances after abdominal surgery are common.
The small bowel is typically least affected, with motility and absorption returning to normal within hours after surgery.
Stomach emptying is usually impaired for about 24 h or more.
The colon is often most affected and may remain inactive for 48 to 72 h or more.

classic colicky pattern present in mechanical obstruction.
There may be obstipation or passage of slight amounts of watery stool.
Auscultation reveals a silent abdomen or minimal peristalsis. The abdomen is not tender unless the underlying cause is inflammatory.

Diagnosis
• Clinical evaluation
• Sometimes xrays
The most essential task is to distinguish ileus from intestinal obstruction.
In both conditions, xrays show gaseous distention of isolated segments of intestine.
In postoperative ileus, however, gas may accumulate more in the colon than in the small bowel.
Postoperative accumulation of gas in the small
bowel often implies development of a complication (eg, obstruction, peritonitis).
In other types of ileus, xray findings are similar to obstruction; differentiation can be difficult unless clinical features clearly favor
one or the other.
Watersoluble contrast studies may help differentiate.

Treatment
• NGT
• IV fluids
Treatment involves continuous nasogastric suction, npo status, IV fluids and electrolytes, a minimal amount of sedatives, and avoidance of opioids and anticholinergic drugs.
Maintaining an adequate serum K level (more than 4 mmol/L) is especially important. Ileus persisting more than 1 wk probably has a mechanical obstructive cause, and laparotomy should be considered.
Sometimes colonic ileus can be relieved by colonoscopic decompression; rarely, cecostomy is required.
Colonoscopic decompression is helpful in treating pseudoobstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome), which consists of apparent obstruction at the splenic flexure, although no cause can be found by contrast enema or colonoscopy for the failure of gas and feces to pass this point.
Some clinicians use IV neostigmine (requires cardiac monitoring) to treat Ogilvie's syndrome

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