Radiophotographically Controlled Nasointestinal Intubation to Treat Recurrent Postoperative Adhesive Ileus

This study describes clinical experience and curative effect of radiophotographically controlled nasointestinal intubation in the treatment of small intestine arrangement in recurrent postoperative adhesive ileus. A 300-cm-long nasointestinal tube was installed into the jejunum through the nasal cavity under radiophotographic observation in 25 patients with recurrent postoperative adhesive ileus. The tube was advanced into the ileum by enterokinesia to relieve adhesive ileus and conduct small bowel arrangement. Duration of tube installation was 13 ± 11 min (range of 9–36 min). The success rate was 88 %. In 3 patients, assistance by a gastroscope was required. Twenty-one out of 25 patients were cured, making the cure rate of 84 %. The time for intestinal arrangement was 18.5 ± 3 days. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years; there was 1 case of recurrence, while other patients recovered smoothly with no recurrence. A non-surgical nasointestinal intubation under radiophotography is a simple, safe, and effective management with few complications and beneficial outcome in recurrent postoperative adhesive ileus.