Abstract

Early postoperative small bowel obstruction is a rare clinical entity different from postoperative adynamic ileus. The case was presented to emphasize the differences between early postoperative small bowel obstruction and postoperative ileus.

In this study, a 14 - years old patient who developed early postoperative small bowel obstruction after appendicectomy was presented. Relaparotomy was performed on the 7th postoperative day. Early postoperative small bowel obstruction was due to adhesions and it caused significant intestinal damage. Ileostomy was performed and the patient was discharged from hospital uneventfully on the 25th postoperative day after stoma closure.

Early postoperative small bowel obstruction and postoperative ileus have some similar symptoms and signs. Long term conservative follow-up in early postoperative small bowel obstruction may cause significant intestinal damage and may result with intestinal loss. For this reason, it is important not to delay the relaparotomy decision.