Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of postoperative paralytic ileus and adhesive intestinal obstruction associated with abdominal surgery: experience with 626 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The results of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for treatment of postoperative paralytic ileus and adhesive intestinal obstruction associated with abdominal surgery are unknown.


METHODS
A retrospective review of postoperative paralytic ileus and adhesive intestinal obstruction associated with abdominal surgery in 626 patients required 758 admissions who underwent HBO therapy was undertaken to examine the efficacy of HBO therapy.


RESULTS
The overall resolution rates for patients receiving HBO therapy in cases of postoperative paralytic ileus and adhesive intestinal obstruction were 92% and 85%, respectively. Among patients who were more than 75 years old, the therapies resolved 35 (97%) of 36 cases of postoperative paralytic ileus and 42 (81%) of 52 cases of adhesive intestinal obstruction, which was comparable to the results for patients less than 75 years old. The mortality rate was 1.2% overall. Complications related to HBO therapy occurred in 3.8% of the admissions, and most of them were not serious.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that HBO therapy might deserve further assessment for use in management of postoperative paralytic ileus and adhesive intestinal obstruction as a new modality. HBO therapy is safe and non-invasive, and may be useful in the elderly patients, since mortality was relatively low in this series.
Ambiru
Satoshi
S
Surgical Center, Chiba University Hospital, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8677, Japan. ambiru-s@umin.ac.jp
Furuyama
Nobuaki
N
Aono
Mitsuo
M
Kimura
Fumio
F
Shimizu
Hiroaki
H
Yoshidome
Hiroyuki
H
Miyazaki
Masaru
M
Shimada
Hideaki
H
Ochiai
Takenori
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions