Criteria

Duration of postoperative ileus

Typical or physiological postoperative ileus

  • The normal and expected slowing of bowel motility in response to the trauma of surgery.

  • Motility typically returns first in the small bowel (<24 hours), then in the stomach (24-48 hours), and finally in the large bowel (>48 hours).[2] Resolution of ileus is signalled by the passage of stool or flatus and tolerance of an oral diet.[3][4]

Prolonged postoperative ileus

  • In some patients, prolonged postoperative ileus develops, which is defined as two or more of the following occurring on or after day 4 post-surgery without prior resolution of postoperative ileus:[6][7]

    • Vomiting

    • Abdominal distension

    • Inability to tolerate oral feeding

    • Absence of flatus.

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer