[Transcaecal splinting of the small intestine as prophylaxis and therapy of ileus (author's transl)].

The present report concerns a simple method of the internal splinting of the small intestine which has been performed on 29 patients in the period between 1976 and 1980. This consists of introducing a Redon tube, perforated at regular intervals from the caecum into the proximal jejunum with exit of the tube via caecostomy. This transcaecal small intestine splinting is an efficient method for prophylaxis of the ileus in cases of peritonitis or lesions of the serosa as well as for ileus therapy in cases of severe abdominal adhesions or ileus recurrence. Our method encourages the formation of adhesions of the intestine lying in a physiological position and makes possible a continuous decompression of the intestine without the disadvantages of the transnasal or transjejunal splinting method. The postoperative development is portrayed. Complications due to the tube, such as formation of ansae and stool-fistulas as well as ileus recurrence are rare. Moreover, lethality is very low.