title: Results of postoperative treatment of ileus in infants and children by means of gastrocecal tube splinting of the intestine.
abstract: Since 1966, gastrocecal tube splinting of the small intestine has been used in 77 instances of postoperative ileus, the over-all mortality being 5.2 per cent. Six to seven patients in whom the operation had been performed at least one year ago, a mean value of 3.5 years, had follow-up examinations. One child had a recurrence of ileus, and in one patient, postoperative invagination was observed. Seventy per cent of the children having follow-up examinations were completely asymptomatic, 24 per cent had slight complaints and 6 per cent did not respond. The method described can, therefore, be recommended for the prevention and therapy of postoperative ileus, provided these contraindications are observed: severe disturbances of intestinal circulation; enterocolitis and ulcerations of intestinal mucosa; meconium ileus, in primary operations, and gastroschisis, in primary operations.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005774:Gastrostomy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence