Post-operative Intestinal Obstruction in Childhood : The Effect of Hyperbalic Therapy as Conservative Therapy

Abstract

Since 1978, 125 children of post-operative intestinal obstruction have been treated in our institute. Of these 125, 106 patients have initially undergone hyperbalic therapy. Eighty-five patients recovered but 21 required operation. In the operated patients, 13 were with stangulated, twisted or intussuscepted intestinal obstruction, but all were not severe. The recovery of obstruction was seeen in 80% of patients by hyperbalic therapy. 19 of 125 cases was very mild or extremely ill and with possible strangulation at arrival. They were not indicated for hyperbalic therapy. The reccurence of intestinal obstruction was seen in 26% by conservative therapy and 36% by operative therapy. It is possible that an operation for intestinal obstruction will provide another intestinal obstruction. By this reason, post-operative intestinal obstruction should be initially treated by a conservative therapy as much as possible. A hyperbalic therapy is helpful for conservative therapy.