TY - JOUR
T1 - Systematic Review of Definitions and Outcome Measures for Postoperative Ileus and Return of Bowel Function after Abdominal Surgery in Children
AU - Eeftinck Schattenkerk, Laurens D.
AU - Shirinskiy, Igor J.
AU - Musters, Gijsbert D.
AU - de Jonge, Wouter J.
AU - de Vries, Ralph
AU - van Heurn, L. W. Ernest
AU - Derikx, Joep P. M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Georg Thieme Verlag. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This review aims to objectify which definitions and outcome measures are used for the return of bowel function and postoperative ileus in children. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched from inception to December 17, 2020. Prospective studies conducted in children (aged 0-18 years) undergoing gastrointestinal surgery which reported on definitions and/or outcome measures for post-operative ileus or return of bowel function were evaluated. Definitions and outcome measures were extracted. From 4,027 references, 71 articles were included. From the 17 articles mentioning postoperative ileus, 8 (47%) provided a definition. In total, 34 outcome measures were used and 12 were unique. Abdominal distension was the most reported (41%) measure. In 41%, the outcome measures only described the return of gastric motility, while 18% described the return of intestinal motility. The return of bowel function was mentioned in 67 articles, none provided a definition. In total, 133 outcome measures were used and 37 were unique. Time to oral intake was the most reported (14%) measure. In 49%, the outcome measures only described the return of gastric motility, while 10% described the return of intestinal motility. High variation in definitions and outcome measures has limited the generalizability of research into postoperative bowel function in children. Without standardization, it will be impossible to compare research results and evaluate treatments. In children, the return of gastric motility seemingly should get more focus compared to adults. Therefore, we believe that a definition of postoperative ileus with an accompanying core outcome set, developed by a multidisciplinary team, specifically for children is required.
AB - This review aims to objectify which definitions and outcome measures are used for the return of bowel function and postoperative ileus in children. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched from inception to December 17, 2020. Prospective studies conducted in children (aged 0-18 years) undergoing gastrointestinal surgery which reported on definitions and/or outcome measures for post-operative ileus or return of bowel function were evaluated. Definitions and outcome measures were extracted. From 4,027 references, 71 articles were included. From the 17 articles mentioning postoperative ileus, 8 (47%) provided a definition. In total, 34 outcome measures were used and 12 were unique. Abdominal distension was the most reported (41%) measure. In 41%, the outcome measures only described the return of gastric motility, while 18% described the return of intestinal motility. The return of bowel function was mentioned in 67 articles, none provided a definition. In total, 133 outcome measures were used and 37 were unique. Time to oral intake was the most reported (14%) measure. In 49%, the outcome measures only described the return of gastric motility, while 10% described the return of intestinal motility. High variation in definitions and outcome measures has limited the generalizability of research into postoperative bowel function in children. Without standardization, it will be impossible to compare research results and evaluate treatments. In children, the return of gastric motility seemingly should get more focus compared to adults. Therefore, we believe that a definition of postoperative ileus with an accompanying core outcome set, developed by a multidisciplinary team, specifically for children is required.
KW - Abdominal surgery
KW - definitions
KW - outcome measures
KW - postoperative ileus
KW - return of bowel function
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138644871&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1745779
DO - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1745779
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36108645
SN - 0939-7248
VL - 33
SP - 259
EP - 270
JO - European journal of pediatric surgery
JF - European journal of pediatric surgery
IS - 4
ER -