Ileus

Disruption to the propulsive ability of the intestine

Medical condition

Ileus

Gangrene of the bowel causing gangrenous ileus
Pronunciation|

* /ˈɪliəs/

Specialty| Gastroenterology, general surgery

Ileus is a disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the intestine. It can be caused by lack of peristalsis or by mechanical obstruction.[1] The word 'ileus' derives from Ancient Greek εἰλεός (eileós) 'intestinal obstruction'. The term 'subileus' refers to a partial obstruction.[2]

## Signs and symptoms

[edit]

Symptoms of ileus include, but are not limited to:[citation needed]

* moderate to severe, diffuse abdominal pain
* constipation
* abdominal distension
* nausea/vomiting, especially after meals
* vomiting of bilious fluid (green or yellowish-green in colour)
* flatulence or inability to pass gas
* excessive belching

## Cause

[edit]

Decreased propulsive ability may be broadly classified as caused either by bowel obstruction or by intestinal atony or paralysis. However, instances with symptoms and signs of a bowel obstruction occur, but with the absence of a mechanical obstruction, mainly in acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, Ogilvie's syndrome.[3] In 2023 the US FDA reported gastrointestinal ileus as an adverse effect of the medication semaglutide, with frequency and causal relationship unknown.[4]

### Bowel obstruction

[edit]

Main article: Bowel obstruction

A bowel obstruction is generally a mechanical obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract and can occur anywhere from the Ligament of Treitz to the anus. When the obstruction affects only the small intestine, it is generally referred to as a small bowel obstruction to distinguish it from a colonic obstruction, which may or may not affect the small intestine. The distinction helps to narrow the possible causes and treatment.

Common causes of small bowel obstruction include post-operative adhesions, hernias, intussusception, and intraabdominal tumors. Common causes of colonic obstruction include primary colon cancer, volvulus and post-operative adhesions. When the ileocecal valve is competent, colonic obstruction may manifest as gaseous distention of the colon, but not the small intestine; when the ileocecal valve is incompetent, it does not prevent retrograde passage of air and stool and a colonic obstruction will cause dilation of both large and small bowel.

Bowel obstructions can be partial or complete. They can be differentiated on imaging by the intestinal gas pattern. Partial obstructions will have gas distal to the obstruction, whereas a complete obstruction will not. Sounds of "rushes and tinkles" are associated with partial obstructions[5] and represent brief passages of fluid and gas (respectively) through the partial obstruction. Complete obstructions do not make these sounds.

### Intestinal paralysis

[edit]

Paralytic ileus is paralysis of the intestine, whether or not complete, sufficient to prohibit the passage of food through the intestine and lead to intestinal blockage. It causes constipation and bloating. On listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope, no bowel sounds are heard because the bowel is inactive.[citation needed] It is a common side effect of some types of surgery, termed postsurgical ileus. It can also result from certain drugs and from various injuries and illnesses, such as acute pancreatitis.

A temporary paralysis of a portion of the intestines occurs typically after abdominal surgery. Since the intestinal content of this portion is unable to move forward, food or drink should be avoided until peristaltic sound is heard, by auscultation (use of a stethoscope) of the area where this portion lies. Intestinal atony or paralysis may be caused by inhibitory neural reflexes, inflammation or other implication of neurohumoral peptides.[citation needed]

### Risk factors

[edit]

* gastrointestinal surgery or other GI procedures
* electrolyte imbalance (Namely hypokalemia and hypercalcemia)
* diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA),[6] and other causes of metabolic acidosis
* hypothyroidism
* diabetes
* medications (e.g. opioids or antimuscarinics)
* severe illness (inflammation with peritonitis)
* spinal cord injury, those with injury above thoracic vertebra 5 (T5) will have hypomotility problems within the bowel
* acute intermittent porphyria

## Treatment

[edit]

Traditionally, nothing by mouth was considered to be mandatory in all cases, but gentle feeding by enteral feeding tube may help to restore motility by triggering the gut's normal feedback signals, so this is the recommended management initially.[7] When the patient has severe, persistent signs that motility is completely disrupted, nasogastric suction and parenteral nutrition may be required until passage is restored. In such cases, continuing aggressive enteral feeding causes a risk of perforating the gut.

Several options are available in the case of paralytic ileus. Most treatment is supportive. If caused by medication, the offending agent is discontinued or reduced. Bowel movements may be stimulated by prescribing lactulose, erythromycin or, in severe cases that are thought to have a neurological component (such as Ogilvie's syndrome), neostigmine. There is also evidence from a systematic review of randomized controlled trials that chewing gum, as a form of 'sham feeding', may stimulate gastrointestinal motility in the post-operative period and reduce the duration of postoperative ileus.[8]

If possible the underlying cause is corrected (e.g. replace electrolytes).

## Other animals

[edit]

Ileus can occur in other mammals. Ileus is a cause of colic in horses due to functional obstruction of the intestines. It is most commonly seen in horses postoperatively, especially following colic surgery.[9] Horses experiencing ileus are at risk for gastric rupture due to rapid reflux build-up, and require intense medical management with frequent nasogastric intubation.[9] Ileus may increase adhesion formation, because intestinal segments have more prolonged contact and intestinal distention causes serosal injury and ischemia. It is usually treated with aggressive fluid support, prokinetics, and anti-inflammatories.[9]

Ileus can also be seen in cats.[10][11]

## Terminology

[edit]

ICD-10 coding reflects both impaired-peristalsis senses and mechanical-obstruction senses of the term as modified by various adjectives.[1] Some authors have argued for trying to reserve the term for the impaired-peristalsis senses,[12][13] under which prescription certain older terms such as "gallstone ileus" and "meconium ileus", although now technically misnomers, are still accepted as correct owing to their long-established usage.[14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b World Health Organization (WHO), ICD-10 coding. K56.x series., archived from the original on 2018-12-04, retrieved 2021-07-28.
2. ^ "Ileus Intestinal Obstruction". www.baermed.ch. Archived from the original on 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
3. ^ Ponec RJ, Saunders MD, Kimmey MB (1999). "Neostigmine for the treatment of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction". N. Engl. J. Med. 341 (3): 137–41. doi:10.1056/NEJM199907153410301. PMID 10403850.
4. ^ Zoler, Mitchel L. (28 September 2023). "FDA Gives Ozempic Two Drug Safety–Related Label Changes". Medscape. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
5. ^ Suneja, Manish (2020). DeGowin's diagnostic examination (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. Chapter 9.
6. ^ Kitabchi AE, Umpierrez GE, Murphy MB, et al. (January 2001). "Management of hyperglycemic crises in patients with diabetes". Diabetes Care. 24 (1): 131–53\. doi:10.2337/diacare.24.1.131. PMID 11194218. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
7. ^ McClave SA, Martindale RG, Vanek VW, et al. (2009). "Guidelines for the Provision and Assessment of Nutrition Support Therapy in the Adult Critically Ill Patient: Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.)". JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 33 (3): 277–316\. doi:10.1177/0148607109335234. PMID 19398613.
8. ^ Fitzgerald JE, Ahmed I (December 2009). "Systematic review and meta-analysis of chewing-gum therapy in the reduction of postoperative paralytic ileus following gastrointestinal surgery". World J Surg. 33 (12): 2557–66\. doi:10.1007/s00268-009-0104-5. PMID 19763686.
9. ^ a b c Larson, Erica (22 July 2013). "Equine Postoperative Ileus Insights". www.thehorse.com. The Horse. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
10. ^ "Lack of Intestinal Motility in Cats".
11. ^ Bradley, Kate (2009). "The small intestine". BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Abdominal Imaging. pp. 110–131\. doi:10.22233/9781905319718.10. ISBN 978-1-905319-10-7.
12. ^ Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL (2004). "The biological basis of modern surgical practice". Sabiston Textbook of Surgery (17th ed.). Elsevier Saunders.
13. ^ Livingston EH, Passaro EP (January 1990). "Postoperative ileus". Dig. Dis. Sci. 35 (1): 121–32\. doi:10.1007/bf01537233. PMID 2403907.
14. ^ Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, Sleisenger MH (2006). "Intestinal obstruction and ileus". Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders.

## External links

[edit]

Classification|

* ICD-10: K31.5, K56.0, K56.3, K56.7, P75, P76.1
* ICD-9-CM: 537.2, 560.1, 560.31, 777.1, 777.4
* MeSH: D045823
* DiseasesDB: 6706

|

External resources|

* MedlinePlus: 000260
* eMedicine: article/178948
* Patient UK: Ileus

* MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Intestinal Obstruction
* Patient UK: Intestinal Obstruction and Ileus
* PubMed Health: Intestinal obstruction
* Ileus at eMedicine
* Merck Manual Professional: Ileus

* v
* t
* e

Diseases of the human digestive system

Upper GI tract|

| Esophagus|

* Esophagitis
* Candidal
* Eosinophilic
* Herpetiform
* Rupture
* Boerhaave syndrome
* Mallory–Weiss syndrome
* Zenker's diverticulum
* Barrett's esophagus
* Esophageal motility disorder
* Nutcracker esophagus
* Achalasia
* Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction
* Diffuse esophageal spasm
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
* Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
* Esophageal stricture
* Inlet patch
* Megaesophagus
* Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis
* Acute esophageal necrosis

|

Stomach|

* Gastritis
* Atrophic
* Ménétrier's disease
* Gastroenteritis
* Peptic (gastric) ulcer
* Cushing ulcer
* Dieulafoy's lesion
* Dyspepsia
* Functional dyspepsia
* Pyloric stenosis
* Achlorhydria
* Gastroparesis
* Gastroptosis
* Portal hypertensive gastropathy
* Gastric antral vascular ectasia
* Gastric dumping syndrome
* Gastric volvulus
* Buried bumper syndrome
* Gastrinoma
* Zollinger–Ellison syndrome

Lower GI tract
Enteropathy|

| Small intestine
(Duodenum/Jejunum/Ileum)|

* Enteritis
* Duodenitis
* Jejunitis
* Ileitis
* Peptic (duodenal) ulcer
* Curling's ulcer
* Malabsorption: Coeliac
* Tropical sprue
* Blind loop syndrome
* Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
* Whipple's
* Short bowel syndrome
* Steatorrhea
* Milroy disease
* Bile acid malabsorption

|

Large intestine
(Appendix/Colon)|

* Appendicitis
* Colitis
* Pseudomembranous
* Ulcerative
* Ischemic
* Microscopic
* Collagenous
* Lymphocytic
* Dysentery
* Functional colonic disease
* IBS
* Intestinal pseudoobstruction / Ogilvie syndrome
* Megacolon / Toxic megacolon
* Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis/SCAD

Large and/or small|

* Enterocolitis
* Necrotizing
* Gastroenterocolitis
* IBD
* Crohn's disease
* Vascular: Abdominal angina
* Mesenteric ischemia
* Angiodysplasia
* Bowel obstruction: Ileus
* Intussusception
* Volvulus
* Fecal impaction
* Constipation
* Functional
* Diarrhea
* Infectious
* Intestinal adhesions

Rectum|

* Proctitis
* Radiation proctitis
* Proctalgia fugax
* Rectal prolapse (Internal rectal prolapse)
* Anismus
* Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome
* Rectal stricture

Anal canal|

* Anal fissure/Anal fistula
* Anal abscess
* Hemorrhoid
* Anal dysplasia
* Pruritus ani
* Anal stricture

GI bleeding|

* Blood in stool
* Upper
* Hematemesis
* Melena
* Lower
* Hematochezia

Accessory|

| Liver|

* Hepatitis
* Viral hepatitis
* Autoimmune hepatitis
* Alcoholic hepatitis
* Cirrhosis
* PBC
* Fatty liver
* MASLD
* Vascular
* Budd–Chiari syndrome
* Hepatic veno-occlusive disease
* Portal hypertension
* Nutmeg liver
* Alcoholic liver disease
* Liver failure
* Hepatic encephalopathy
* Acute liver failure
* Liver abscess
* Pyogenic
* Amoebic
* Hepatorenal syndrome
* Peliosis hepatis
* Metabolic disorders
* Wilson's disease
* Hemochromatosis

|

Gallbladder|

* Cholecystitis
* Gallstone / Cholelithiasis
* Cholesterolosis
* Adenomyomatosis
* Postcholecystectomy syndrome
* Porcelain gallbladder

Bile duct/
Other biliary tree|

* Cholangitis
* Primary sclerosing cholangitis
* Secondary sclerosing cholangitis
* Ascending
* Cholestasis/Mirizzi's syndrome
* Biliary fistula
* Haemobilia

* Common bile duct
* Choledocholithiasis
* Biliary dyskinesia
* Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

Pancreatic|

* Pancreatitis
* Acute
* Chronic
* Hereditary
* Pancreatic abscess
* Pancreatic pseudocyst
* Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
* Pancreatic fistula

Other|

| Hernia|

* Diaphragmatic
* Congenital
* Hiatus

* Inguinal
* Indirect
* Direct
* Umbilical
* Paraumbilical
* Femoral
* Obturator
* Spigelian

* Lumbar
* Petit's
* Grynfeltt–Lesshaft

* Undefined location
* Incisional
* Internal hernia
* Richter's

|

Peritoneal|

* Peritonitis
* Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
* Hemoperitoneum
* Pneumoperitoneum

* v
* t
* e

Conditions originating in the perinatal period / fetal disease

Maternal factors
complicating pregnancy,
labour or delivery|

| placenta|

* Placenta praevia
* Placental insufficiency
* Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

|

chorion/amnion|

* Chorioamnionitis

umbilical cord|

* Umbilical cord prolapse
* Nuchal cord
* Single umbilical artery

presentation|

* Breech birth
* Asynclitism
* Shoulder presentation

Growth|

* Small for gestational age / Large for gestational age
* Preterm birth / Postterm pregnancy
* Intrauterine growth restriction

Birth trauma|

* scalp
* Cephalohematoma
* Chignon
* Caput succedaneum
* Subgaleal hemorrhage
* Brachial plexus injury
* Erb's palsy
* Klumpke paralysis

Affected systems|

| Respiratory|

* Intrauterine hypoxia
* Infant respiratory distress syndrome
* Transient tachypnea of the newborn
* Meconium aspiration syndrome
* Pleural disease
* Pneumothorax
* Pneumomediastinum
* Wilson–Mikity syndrome
* Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

|

Cardiovascular|

* Pneumopericardium
* Persistent fetal circulation

Bleeding and
hematologic disease|

* Vitamin K deficiency bleeding

* HDN
* ABO
* Anti-Kell
* Rh c
* Rh D
* Rh E
* Hydrops fetalis
* Hyperbilirubinemia
* Bilirubin encephalopathy
* Neonatal jaundice

* Velamentous cord insertion
* Intraventricular hemorrhage
* Germinal matrix hemorrhage
* Anemia of prematurity

Gastrointestinal|

* Ileus
* Necrotizing enterocolitis
* Meconium peritonitis

Integument and
thermoregulation|

* Erythema toxicum
* Sclerema neonatorum

Nervous system|

* Perinatal asphyxia
* Periventricular leukomalacia

Musculoskeletal|

* Gray baby syndrome
* muscle tone
* Congenital hypertonia
* Congenital hypotonia

Infections|

* Vertically transmitted infection
* Neonatal infection
* rubella
* herpes simplex
* mycoplasma hominis
* ureaplasma urealyticum
* Omphalitis
* Neonatal sepsis
* Group B streptococcal infection
* Neonatal conjunctivitis

Other|

* Miscarriage
* Perinatal mortality
* Stillbirth
* Infant mortality
* Neonatal withdrawal
* Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template