Ileus

A nonmechanical impairment of intestinal motility causing functional bowel obstruction, characterized by absent or markedly reduced peristalsis, abdominal distension, pain, and intolerance of oral intake in the absence of a luminal obstruction.

Causes

• Postoperative causes

• Medication-related causes

  • Opioids

  • Anticholinergic medications

  • Chemotherapy

  • Antipsychotics

  • Tricyclic antidepressants

  • Other medications that reduce gastrointestinal motility

• Electrolyte and metabolic causes

  • Hypokalemia

  • Hypocalcemia

  • Hypomagnesemia

  • Uremia

• Infectious and inflammatory causes

  • Appendicitis

  • Diverticulitis

  • Peritonitis

  • Sepsis

  • Intra-abdominal abscess

• Mesenteric ischemia

• Hypothyroidism

• Diabetes mellitus with autonomic neuropathy

• Neurological causes

  • Spinal cord injury

  • Parkinson's disease

  • Autonomic nervous system disorders

• Severe trauma

• Critical illness

• Retroperitoneal hemorrhage

• Idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction