Therapeutic value of sesame oil in the treatment of adhesive small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Background The optimal treatment of partial adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oral administration of sesame oil to the standard of conservative treatment in this disease. Methods Sixty-four cases of partial adhesive SBO were retrospectively allocated into either the control group or the intervention group (with sesame oil added), and clinical results were compared. Results Of the 64 patients, 33 were in the control group and 31 in the intervention group. Significantly fewer patients required surgical intervention in the intervention group than in the control group (4/31 vs 16/33, P = .0029). Less SBO resolution time (24 hour vs 30 hour, P = .0019) and a shorter hospital stay (6 days vs 10 days, P = .0235) were observed in the interventional group. Conclusions Our study showed that sesame oil was a safe and effective adjunct to the standard treatment of partial adhesive SBO.