[Postoperative ileus--early, late or no surgery at all?].

One third of all relaparotomies are due to early postoperative bowel obstructions. Operations on the small bowel and colon are predominant among the primary procedures. The main causes of obstructions are adhesions. The symptoms of intestinal obstruction in the early postoperative period can be masked by a prolonged postoperative ileus. Reoperation of bowel obstruction is easier and safer in the first ten postoperative days compared to delayed reintervention after unsuccessful conservative treatment. When obstruction occurs after the first postoperative week, an initial conservative therapy for 7 to 10 days can be successful in over 50%.