Intestinal Obstruction (Ileus): Prevention

To prevent ileus (intestinal obstruction), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.

Environmental exposures – Intoxications (poisonings).

  • Alcohol intoxication

Prevention factors (protective factors)

  • Coffee drinking: one study examined the effect of coffee compared with herbal or fruit tea on postoperative bowel function and concluded that patients who drank coffee daily had a bowel movement again after a mean of 65 hours after bowel surgery – for coffee drinkers, this occurred only after 74 hours; furthermore, patients who drank coffee were discharged from the hospital after 6 days, whereas tea drinkers were discharged after 7 days.