ILEUS FOLLOWING GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY - MANAGEMENT WITH WATER-SOLUBLE HYPEROSMOLAR RADIOCONTRAST MATERIAL

Postoperative ileus following gynecologic surgery can prolong hospital ization and may predispose patients to mechanical obstruction. Our obj ective was to study the safety and efficacy of a water-soluble, hypero smolar, radiocontrast material in the management of postoperative ileu s in patients having gynecologic surgery. Of 115 cases, 57 were studie d prospectively and received water-soluble radio-opaque contrast mater ial via a nasogastric tube if bowel function had not returned by the t hird day. Fifty-eight well-matched control cases were managed without this material and received a suppository on the third day. The contras t material was well tolerated. Return of bowel function, day of oral i ntake, subsequent postoperative recovery, and duration of hospital sta y were similar in the two groups. Water-soluble, hyperosmolar, radio-o paque contrast material given on the third postoperative day was safe, but of no apparent clinical benefit in resolving ileus following gyne cologic surgery.