Perception of Paralytic Ileus on Viewpoint of Avicenna

Paralytic ileus is type of functional obstruction caused by the lack of intestinal peristalsis without any mechanical obstruction. This interference of the flow of intestinal contents often leads to intestinal obstruction. Paralytic ileus may be classified into postoperative, inflammatory, metabolic, neurogenic, and drug-induced (1). The incidence of paralytic ileus is high especially after abdominal surgery. Postoperative ileus is one of the most important factors affecting early recovery and is a cause of morbidity surgery and prolonged hospital stay (2). Despite the huge cost to the health system, there have been very few advances in cli-nicians approach to ileus. In fact, the main etiol-ogy of ileus is unknown and requires a multifac-torial therapeutic approach (3). An alternative approach could help certain themes ignored by new studies. Iranian traditional medicine is one of the oldest traditional medicines. Avicenna (980-1037AD) was a great Iranian clinician and philosopher. He in his famous book, Qanun of Medicine thoroughly has reviewed all of the medical science of ancient Greek and Muslim scholars (4, 5). Based on Iranian traditional medicine, paralytic ileus, type of functional intestinal obstruction, has been described under title of Gholonj disease. This chapter deals with the physiopathology and management of the gastrointestinal obstructive disorders in Iranian traditional medicine (6, 7). Gholonj is a general terms applied to any abdominal pain along with no gas passing and defeca-tion. Avicenna considered the simple abdominal pain different from Gholonj; and that condition has investigated under the title of " Maghs ". The different aspect of these two diseases is passing or non-passing of intestinal contents. On the other hand, Gholonj includes a range of intestinal diseases that the most important characteristic is insufficiency of intestinal movement and inability to pass flatus and defection. The main place of involving in Gholonj is colon and the name of Gholonj has derived from Gholon that is the Arabic term of colon. The symptoms of Gholonj are a significant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting , abdominal distention, inability to defeca-tion or gas passing and decreased appetite. In intensive cases of disease may are seen inability to urinate, thirst, chills and disturbance of consciousness. Avicenna believes the most important physiopathology of this disease is intestinal obstruction. Golonj is classified based on the etiology of obstruction (mechanical or non-mechanical) to six categories (Table 1). Non-mechanical obstruction can be created because of accumulation of gas or secretion of some material into intestinal lumen. …