title: Postoperative ileus: etiologies and interventions.
abstract: This article will review the pathophysiology of postoperative ileus, with emphasis on potential therapeutic targets, and examine the efficacy of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Proposed mechanisms include actuation of spinal and local sympathetic neural reflexes, inflammatory mediation, and exacerbation by anesthetic or surgical procedures. Some procedures or agents have shown clinical benefit, and these include use of laparoscopic surgery, thoracic epidurals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and opiate antagonists. Other procedures may be helpful with low risk of adverse effects. These include early feeding and ambulation, laxatives, and possibly neostigmine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Behm
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stollman
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D009270:Naloxone; D009388:Neostigmine; C419502:alvimopan