To investigate the cause, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction.

A retrospective analysis of 42 clinical patients with early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction was conducted in our department. The bowel movement once recovered after exhaust, but intestinal obstruction, a predominantly bloating symptom, occurred again after eating. It was diagnosed with physical examination and X-ray.

Forty patients were cured through conservative treatment, and bowel movements recovered after 5-21 d (median time 9d). The other 2 were not cured 2 weeks after the conservative treatment. Therefore one was given partial small bowel resection due to blood supply obstacles and adhesion, the other adhesion release and arranged operation because of wide synechia and expansion of the bowel loops. The median cured time was 15 days.

Early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction often occurs 2 weeks after abdominal operation. Treatment should be carefully based on the causes and clinical progress. Conservative treatment is the primary choice for early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction.