Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Safety and efficacy of methylnaltrexone in shortening the duration of postoperative ileus following segmental colectomy: results of two randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials.
Postoperative ileus contributes to surgical morbidity and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased health care costs. The efficacy and safety of the peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist methylnaltrexone in shortening the duration of postoperative ileus following segmental colectomy was evaluated. ⋯ Although the efficacy of methylnaltrexone in reducing the duration of postoperative ileus was not demonstrated in these studies, intravenous methylnaltrexone at doses of 12 mg and 24 mg was safe, in general, and well tolerated in postcolectomy patients. The utility of intravenous methylnaltrexone in treating postoperative ileus remains unproven.