title: Factors associated with the resolution of postoperative ileus in newborn infants.
abstract: Reliable indicators of ileus resolution following laparotomy have not been identified in newborn infants. The purpose of this study was to correlate commonly available clinical parameters with the resolution of postoperative ileus in newborn infants after abdominal procedures. The presentation, treatment, and postoperative abdominal examination of 60 consecutive newborn infants who underwent a heterogeneous group of primary abdominal operations were evaluated. No significant association was observed between the time to first bowel movement (resolution of ileus) and age, postconceptual age, weight, degree of intraabdominal contamination, duration of surgery, type of operative procedure, presence or absence of abdominal distension, and time to first bowel sounds. Opioid use was associated with a delay in the time to first bowel movement that was not accounted for by the effects of any other variable. Easily obtainable clinical parameters are not universally useful for predicting the duration of ileus in newborn infants after abdominal surgery. The use of opioids is associated with delayed resolution of ileus. Measures to limit the use of opioids may be effective in shortening the duration of postoperative ileus in newborn infants.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Columbia, Department of Surgery, Children Hospital, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. burdr@health.missouri.edu
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Burd
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis