Question

What should be noted after bowel obstruction surgery?

Answer

  1. After the surgical resection of bowel obstruction, it is important to monitor for any indentations in the blind bowel wall (or ileal wall) and ensure they are restored to prevent recurrence of the obstruction in the short term.
  2. Infants have a lower tolerance for surgery, so it is crucial to minimize bleeding during the procedure and maintain good surgical technique.
  3. For intestines with questionable viability, careful consideration should be given to whether to remove or bypass them. Historical evidence shows that with appropriate supportive treatment, some intestines with questionable viability can regain their vitality.
  4. Sometimes, the bowel walls affected by the obstruction are severely swollen. Even if the obstruction is fully resolved, it is important to watch for any missed small tumors.
  5. After surgery, anal dilatation or anal catheterization should be performed regularly, and patients who have undergone simple bowel obstruction resection can gradually resume their diet; those who have undergone intestinal resection and anastomosis should first stop gastrointestinal detoxification and give them a small amount of liquid diet before gradually increasing it.