ileus

noun

il·​e·​us ˈi-lē-əs 

: obstruction of the bowel

especially : functional obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract and especially the small intestine that is marked by the absence of peristalsis, is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, and sometimes nausea and vomiting, and typically occurs following abdominal surgery

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The ileus was causing gas to back up throughout his gastrointestinal tract, distending his abdomen. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2021

An ileus occurs when the intestines lose the ability to contract and keep food moving through. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2021

O’Neill lists some of the top disorders that plague pet rabbits: overgrown nails, overgrown teeth, obesity and ileus, also known as gut stasis, a life-threatening condition where the normal movement of food through the bowels stops working. —Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 1 Oct. 2020

Over the next 30 hours, the report said, the man developed encephalopathy, brain damage, and paralytic ileus, or paralysis of the intestine. —Joshua Bote, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2019

Other problems included a painful intestinal obstruction called an ileus; an abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia); nausea and vomiting; confusion and delirium; and skin problems like severe itching or a rash. —Karen Kaplan, latimes.com, 23 May 2018

When Strube-Bohaty was an infant, she was diagnosed with meconium ileus, a bowel obstruction that occurs when a child’s intestines become stickier than normal. —Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 1 May 2018

Normally, postoperative ileus goes away on its own in about three or four days after an operation, but people can be uncomfortable while the condition lasts, the meta-analysis said. —Sara G. Miller Staff Writer, Fox News, 2 June 2017

Claire was born with meconium ileus, a bowel obstruction that is a telltale sign of CF. —Jessica Ravitz, CNN, 5 July 2017

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin īleus, īleos, borrowed from Greek eileós, also attested in sense "den of an animal, especially a snake," probably derivative of eiléō, eileîn "wind, turn round, roll up" — more at welter entry 1

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

ileus

noun

il·​e·​us ˈil-ē-əs 

: obstruction of the bowel

specifically : functional obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract and especially the small intestine that is marked by the absence of peristalsis, is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, and sometimes nausea and vomiting, and typically occurs following abdominal surgery

called also paralytic ileus

compare volvulus