title: Management of postoperative ileus.
abstract: Postoperative ileus, a temporary cessation in bowel motility, is a common and significant complication of major surgery. Consequences of postoperative ileus include increased patient discomfort, delayed time to adequate nutrition, prolonged length of stay, and increased cost to the patient and healthcare system. The traditional, multi-modal approach to the resolution of postoperative ileus includes opioid minimization, early ambulation, and early feeding. Newer medications, such as methlynaltrexone and alvimopan (which are peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonists), have become available and have proven beneficial for use with postoperative ileus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky Hospital, 800 Rose St, H110, Lexington, KY 40536-2093, USA. mlthompson@uky.edu
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Magnuson
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000628:therapy*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C032257:methylnaltrexone; D009271:Naltrexone; C419502:alvimopan