Acidophilus: Acidophilus May Help Patients with Small-Bowel
Obstruction
A study carried out by the National Taiwan University Hospital
and the National Taiwan University, College of Medicine in
Taipei, determined that patients with partial bowel obstruction
may improve with oral intake of laxatives, acidophilus, and
simethicone.
According to some specialists, patients with partial adhesive
small-bowel obstruction are usually managed conservatively,
receiving intravenous hydration and nothing by mouth. "Previous
studies have suggested that this approach is associated with
longer hospital stays and an increased risk of delayed surgery",
as reports Shyr-Chyr Chen, MD, from National Taiwan University
Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine in
Taipei, and colleagues.
>From 144 consecutive patients with adhesive partial small-bowel
obstruction that was admitted between February 2000 and July
2001, 128 met the inclusion criteria and were randomized to
either the intervention group -IV hydration, nasogastric
(NG)-tube decompression, and oral therapy with magnesium oxide,
Lactobacillus acidophilus, and simethicone- or to the control
group (IV hydration, NG-tube decompression, and nothing by
mouth).
Most of the patients were men, whose age was 54.4