Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: íleo paralítico
Paralytic ileus (PA-ruh-LIH-tic IH-lee-us)
A condition in which the muscles of the intestines do not allow food to pass through, resulting in a blocked intestine. Paralytic ileus may be caused by surgery, inflammation, and certain drugs.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.