ileus

noun

il·​e·​us ˈi-lē-əs How to pronounce ileus (audio)
: 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

Examples of ileus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The clearest exceptions are cases of meconium ileus, in which doing nothing comes with its own costs. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024 This is called meconium ileus, and in the worst cases, the intestines can rupture. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024 Another risk is developing an ileus, George added, when the intestines are slow to restart after anesthesia or surgery. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 This just happened in October—the FDA added a gastrointestinal side effect, ileus, to Ozempic’s label. Julia Landwehr, Health, 19 Jan. 2024 The condition, called ileus, occurs when there are problems pushing food through the intestine and can cause build-up and blockage there. Staff Author, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2023 If left untreated, ileus can cause parts of the intestine to die, leading to major problems or death for patients. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2023 Taking the medication could be linked to ileus, a condition where the intestines temporarily stop functioning. Julia Landwehr, Health, 4 Oct. 2023 Among these, 33 cases, which included two fatalities, specifically reference ileus as a side effect of medications containing semaglutide. Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ileus was in 1693

Dictionary Entries Near ileus

Cite this Entry

“Ileus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ileus. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

ileus

noun
il·​e·​us ˈil-ē-əs How to pronounce ileus (audio)
: 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

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