Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Postoperative ileus (POI), a transient cessation of coordinated bowel motility, occurs to some extent after all major abdominal operations. This analysis examines gastrointestinal (GI) recovery and hospital discharge history in patients undergoing partial bowel resection (BR) or total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) by laparotomy in the placebo arms of recent phase III alvimopan trials. ⋯ Despite the relatively fast recovery observed with standardized accelerated postoperative care pathway use, POI as an adverse event was still reported in approximately 15% of BR patients and 3% of TAH patients. This analysis provides important clinical insight into the differences in GI recovery patterns and the incidence and impact of POI after BR and TAH.