The diagnosis ileus is one of the most common indications for an emergency laparotomy. In 70% of the cases, the small intestine is affected, and in 30% it is the colorectum. While stuck hernias are a major cause in developing countries, the most common causes in western countries are postoperative adhesions that lead to an acute bowl obstruction. The timeframe for treatment of a complete mechanical obstruction is short as acute ischemia can lead to necrosis with bowl perforation within 6 h. The perioperative lethality for an emergency laparotomy due to an ileus ranges from 5-15%. In addition to the mechanical ileus, primary and secondary paralytic ileus is important in the differential diagnosis. As the genesis of postoperative ileus is multifactorial, a multimodal concept is required for successful treatment.
Keywords: Mechanical ileus; Ogilvie syndrome; Paralytic ileus; Postoperative ileus; non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI).