Condition

Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction

Clinical trials and treatment information for Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction

605K
People Affected
150
Active Trials
61K
New Cases/Year
232K
Deaths/Year

Treatment Rankings

Ranked by evidence volume first. Medicine has spent centuries ranking things by vibes. This is an improvement.

1
Surgical Correction (e.g., Lysis of Adhesions, Resection)
90% Effectiveness• 95% Confidence• 45% Safety• 500 trials• 100K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood Value
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

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Meth💀
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45
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Immediate

Duration

Acute intervention, then recovery

Response Rate

92%

Remission Rate

85%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

1

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

10

Common Side Effects:

Post-operative pain: 85%
Wound infection: 10%
Anastomotic leak: 4%
Post-operative ileus: 15%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$500

Monitoring

$45,000

Side Effects

$5,000

Total Annual

$50,500

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.8

ICER

$50,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$59,412

Cost per Responder

$54,891

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+90%
Response Rate
+92%
Remission Rate
+85%
Common Side Effects
Post-operative pain
+85%
Wound infection
+10%
Anastomotic leak
+4%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
2
Neostigmine (for Acute Colonic Pseudo-obstruction)
85% Effectiveness• 75% Confidence• 50% Safety• 15 trials• 800 participants
MODERATE EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 2 mg IV over 3-5 minutes
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

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Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
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Water💧
50
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

15-30 minutes for initial effect

Duration

Single dose, repeat if needed

Response Rate

85%

Remission Rate

80%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

2

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

8

Common Side Effects:

Bradycardia: 15%
Abdominal Cramps: 20%
Nausea/Vomiting: 10%
Salivation: 8%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$30

Monitoring

$750

Side Effects

$50

Total Annual

$830

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.2

Cost per Remission

$1,038

Cost per Responder

$976

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+85%
Response Rate
+85%
Remission Rate
+80%
Common Side Effects
Bradycardia
+15%
Abdominal Cramps
+20%
Nausea/Vomiting
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
3
Alvimopan
75% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 65% Safety• 25 trials• 10K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 12 mg orally pre-surgery, then 12 mg twice daily for up to 7 days
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
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Water💧
65
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 days

Duration

Up to 7 days

Response Rate

65%

Remission Rate

%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

12

Common Side Effects:

Dyspepsia: 5%
Hypokalemia: 3%
Anemia: 2%
Urinary retention: 2%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$2,500

Monitoring

$800

Side Effects

$50

Total Annual

$3,350

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.03

ICER

$20,000/QALY

Cost per Responder

$3,923

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+75%
Response Rate
+65%
Common Side Effects
Dyspepsia
+5%
Hypokalemia
+3%
Anemia
+2%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
4
Opioid-Sparing Analgesia (e.g., Multimodal Pain Management)
65% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 75% Safety• 200 trials• 25K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: Varies by drug (e.g., Acetaminophen 1g Q6H, Ibuprofen 400-600mg Q6H)
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
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75
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Continuous

Duration

Peri-operative, 3-7 days

Response Rate

60%

Remission Rate

%

Common Side Effects:

GI upset (NSAIDs): 7%
Drowsiness/sedation: 5%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$300

Monitoring

$50

Side Effects

$20

Total Annual

$370

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.05

Cost per Responder

$617

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+65%
Response Rate
+60%
Common Side Effects
GI upset (NSAIDs)
+7%
Drowsiness/sedation
+5%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
5
Conservative Management (NPO, NG decompression, IV fluids)
60% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 85% Safety• 300 trials• 30K participants
HIGH Evidence
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
85
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-7 days

Duration

Variable, 3-7 days typically

Response Rate

70%

Remission Rate

60%

Common Side Effects:

NG tube discomfort: 40%
Electrolyte imbalance: 15%
Aspiration risk: 3%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$200

Monitoring

$15,000

Side Effects

$100

Total Annual

$15,300

QALYs Gained

0.05

Cost per Remission

$25,500

Cost per Responder

$21,857

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+60%
Response Rate
+70%
Remission Rate
+60%
Common Side Effects
NG tube discomfort
+40%
Electrolyte imbalance
+15%
Aspiration risk
+3%
6
Early Mobilization/Ambulation
55% Effectiveness• 80% Confidence• 95% Safety• 50 trials• 8K participants
MODERATE EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 30 minutes walking 2-3 times daily
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
95
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 days

Duration

Daily post-op until discharge

Response Rate

50%

Remission Rate

%

Common Side Effects:

Fatigue: 8%
Fall risk: 0.5%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$0

Monitoring

$50

Side Effects

$0

Total Annual

$50

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.01

Cost per Responder

$100

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+55%
Response Rate
+50%
Common Side Effects
Fatigue
+8%
Fall risk
+0.5%