[Intermittent incomplete ileus of the small intestine. Sonographic diagnosis and trends].

Intermittent incomplete intestinal obstruction was proven by sonography in 25 male and 48 female patients with an age range of 10 to 88 years. All of them suffered from intermittent colicky pain, nausea and meteorism followed by liquid stools. Only 52 patients had undergone a total of 69 abdominal operations. The pertinent symptoms could be traced back for 6 months to 10 years (4 +/- 3 years). In 47 patients, intake of bulky food during the last 12 to 48 hours triggered the onset of disorders. The preadmission diagnoses were: incomplete intestinal obstruction (only 21), gastroenteritis (15), biliary colic (13), peptic ulcer (10), renal colic (4), food intoxication (4), appendicitis (3), adnexitis (3). Sonographic findings were: inconstant lumen distension, visible bowel wall movements with contractions of 3 to 6 mm, food bolus, enhanced paradoxical peristalsis, proof of distended and collapsed gut segments, bowel wall edema and free peritoneal fluid. Based on these ultrasonic findings and trend observation, conservative treatment was successfully instituted. All patients were discharged symptom-free with no subsequent attacks for 12 months. 20 patients, subsequently suffering from complete intestinal obstruction after 1 to 3 years, were operated on, comprising 8 cases of intestinal resection, 7 cases of adhesiolysis and intestinal tube splinting, 3 cases of band dissection and 2 cases of palliative bypass procedures. The diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography is clearly demonstrated by the fact, that 11 of these patients with intermittent incomplete intestinal obstruction and now suffering from complete obstruction had no previous abdominal surgery.