A prospective randomized trial of transnasal ileus tube vs nasogastric tube for adhesive small bowel obstruction

Figure 2 Radiographs of ileus tube decompression. Plain abdominal radiographs (A) and (B) reviewed 3 d after ileus tube decompression compared with scans on admission in a patient with postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction. A: The diffuse distended loops of small bowel that was filled with gas and fluid before intubation; air-fluid levels were seen in the enteric cavity; B: Reviewed 3 d after intubation; the previous gas-filled or fluid-filled small bowel loops showed no evidence of distention, the air-fluid levels disappeared, and the long tube had moved downward while the tip reached the distal jejunum.