[Postoperative intestinal obstruction: introduction (author's transl)].

Postoperative intestinal obstruction is the indication for one-third of early reoperations. Mortality increases with age and time interval. Operations on the lower intestinal tract are predominant among the primary procedures. The main causes of obstruction are adhesions involving the small intestine. Diagnosis requires differentiation from paralytic ileus and physiologic postoperative paralysis. The outcome depends on early recognition, immediate reoperation, and adequate surgical management.