Dihydroergotamine in postoperative ileus.

The effects of dihydroergotamine (DHE) on postoperative ileus after major abdominal surgery were studied. Forty-one patients received 0.5 mg DHE subcutaneously twice a day from the day of surgery to the seventh postoperative day. Thirty-three patients served as controls. There were no significant differences in the time to the first postoperative passage of flatus or delivery of stools nor in the quantity of laxatives given. It is concluded that DHE does not reduce the duration of postoperative ileus.