Neostigmine in a Surgeon’s Armamentarium

Abstract

Aim: To report the usefulness of an under-utilized drug in surgical practice. Postoperative ileus is a troublesome complication of abdominal surgeries. Over the years surgeons have found it difficult to avoid the ileus and treat it when it occurs. Watchful waiting seems to be the order of the day leaving the patient at the nature’s mercy. Literature reports use of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors in times of despair. We present one such case of a middle-aged female, who didn’t respond to usual maneuvers. Eventually we tried neostigmine and the patient responded. We propose that neostigmine, although having a few side effects, should be used more frequently but nevertheless cautiously to treat paralytic ileus.