[Clinical results of Child' and Phillips' mesenteric plication for the prevention and therapy of small intestinal ileus].

Mesenteric plication was performed on 148 patients (99 adults and 49 children) in the Surgical Department of Würzburg University. Recurrent bowel obstruction occurred as an early complication in 6.8%. A relaparatomy was necessary in all cases. 4 out of 10 recurrences were due to complications of the method itself. Recurrent bowel obstruction in the form of a subileus occurred as a late complication in 2.2%. There was a concurrent peritonitis at the time of mesenterial plication in 52 patients. The number of relaparatomies in the presence or absence of peritonitis was 15.4% and 8.3%, respectively. No patient died of complications due to plication. The intestinal transit time was normal 2 to 11 years after the procedure in over 92% of the patients. The typical arrangement of the small bowel mucosa was absent in 81%.