Treatment of postoperative ileus with choline citrate—results of a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multicentre trial

Objectives This was a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multicentre trial to analyse the efficacy of choline citrate in patients with postoperative ileus (POI) after elective colorectal surgery. Methods From October 2005 until June 2008, 122 patients with POI were randomised to receive choline citrate or placebo. One hundred twenty patients were evaluable for tolerability and 107 patients were evaluable for efficacy. The treatment group, 47% (50/107), received 300.2 mg choline citrate intravenously, while the placebo group, 53% (57/107), received sodium chloride. Injections were performed every 12 h until defecation. Results Demographic data analysis did not show clinically differences between both groups. Operative procedures included 40% (43/107) hemicolectomy, 38% (41/107) sigmoid resection and 22% (23/107) other colorectal resections. Defecation occurred after an average of 91.8 ± 26.6 h postoperatively in the treatment group, vs. 96.7 ± 35.2 h in the placebo group ( p = 0.805). After laparoscopy, defecation occurred after 78.7 ± 25.3 h, vs. 99.2 ± 31.6 h after laparotomy ( p = 0.001). Serious adverse effects occurred in 2% (1/60) in the treatment group, vs. 3% (2/60) in the placebo group. None of the events have been assessed as related to the study medication. Conclusion An efficacy of choline citrate in the treatment of POI after elective colorectal surgery could not be verified. The problem of POI requiring drug treatment seems to be less frequent than suggested by the literature. With technical advances in surgery, especially laparoscopic and fast track surgery, the frequency of POI will further decrease in the future.