Gastrointestinal

Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO)

A mechanical blockage that stops the movement of fecal mater and air through the intestines. This condition is frequently caused by scar tissue (adhesions) from prior surgeries.

  • Patients treated with OMM vs. normal standard of care shortened their hospital stay from 11.5 days to 6.1 days in one study, and from 14.6 to 11.8 in a second study.

  • Patients with SBO that received OMM had decreased pain, increased quality of life, and decreased GI symptoms when compared to usual care.

More on intra-abdominal adhesions

Frequently, abdominal or pelvic surgery leaves behind scar tissue. Over time that scar tissue can interact with the bowel in such a way as to contribute to or cause obstructions. In fact, scar tissue from prior surgeries is the leading cause of small bowel obstructions.

Animal models suggest manipulative techniques through the abdominal wall was shown to both prevent adhesion formation and the ability to break up adhesions that had already formed. It is reasonable to assume similar outcomes to be plausible in human patients.

Pancreatitis

  • Likewise, patients had a 3.5 day decrease in length of stay when OMM was utilized in patient care.

    Works Cited

    • Crow WT, Gordinsky L. Does osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) improves outcomes in patients who develop postoperative ileus: a retrospective review. Am Osteopath Medicine 2009 (12): 32-37.

    • Blatazar GA, Betler MP, Akella KA et. al. Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Incidence of Postoperative Ileus and Hospital Length of Stay in General Surgical Patients. Am Osteopath Assoc 2013 (113); 204-209.

    • Radijieski JM, Lumley MA, Cantieri MS. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay for pancreatitis: A randomized pilot study. Am Osteopath Assoc. 1998: (98) 264-272.

    • Bove GM, Chapelle SL. Visceral mobilization can lyse and prevent peritoneal adhesions in a rat model. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies (2011) xx, 1-7.

    • Rice AD, Patterson K, Reed ED, et al. Treating Small Bowel Obstruction with a Manual Physical Therapy: A Prospective Efficacy study. BioMed Research International 2016. Article ID: 7610387