Ileus

Ileus - sometimes called paralytic ileus - is the name given to the situation where the small bowel ceases to move. The most usual cause of this is a consequence of abdominal surgery: The bowel dislikes being handled and freezes; normal contractions only re-start after a period of time, during which it is necessary to use intravenous therapy to provide hydration and to drain stomach secretions using a tube passed via the nose (so-called "drip and suck"). Rarely, paralytic ileus is caused by low levels of potassium in the blood.
 
 
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