title: Adhesive small-bowel obstruction treatment using internal intestinal splinting with a nasointestinal ileus tube.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of non-surgical internal intestinal splinting using an ileus tube under X-ray guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with recurrent postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) received internal splinting using intubation of a 300 cm long ileus tube. Under X-ray guidance, the tube was advanced through nose, 10 cm beyond the jejunal ligament of Treitz. The tube was advanced towards the end of ileum and propelled by peristalsis using a water-filled anterior balloon of the tube, which directly dilated narrowed intestines. The tube remained in the intestine for further support and splinting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 16 patients achieved a resolution of the bowel obstruction without complications. During a follow-up of 8 months to 2 years, 1 patient had a recurrent obstruction 4 months post-procedure. The remaining patients did not experience obstruction recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-surgical, internal intestinal splinting using a nasointestinal ileus tube under X-ray was simple, non-invasive, safe and effective treatment of recurrent adhesive SBO.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Dongnan University Medical College, Xuzhou, China - cuihx2009@126.com.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Cui
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Jiang
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013165:Splints; D016896:Treatment Outcome