This review aims to objectify which definitions and outcome measures are used for the return of bowel function and postoperative ileus in children. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched from inception to December 17, 2020. Prospective studies conducted in children (aged 0–18 years) undergoing gastrointestinal surgery which reported on definitions and/or outcome measures for post-operative ileus or return of bowel function were evaluated. Definitions and outcome measures were extracted. From 4,027 references, 71 articles were included. From the 17 articles mentioning postoperative ileus, 8 (47%) provided a definition. In total, 34 outcome measures were used and 12 were unique. “Abdominal distension” was the most reported (41%) measure. In 41%, the outcome measures only described the return of gastric motility, while 18% described the return of intestinal motility. The return of bowel function was mentioned in 67 articles, none provided a definition. In total, 133 outcome measures were used and 37 were unique. Time to oral intake was the most reported (14%) measure. In 49%, the outcome measures only described the return of gastric motility, while 10% described the return of intestinal motility. High variation in definitions and outcome measures has limited the generalizability of research into postoperative bowel function in children. Without standardization, it will be impossible to compare research results and evaluate treatments. In children, the return of gastric motility seemingly should get more focus compared to adults. Therefore, we believe that a definition of postoperative ileus with an accompanying core outcome set, developed by a multidisciplinary team, specifically for children is required.

本综述旨在客观化用于儿童肠功能恢复和术后肠梗阻的定义和结果测量。PubMed 和 Embase 的检索时间从开始到 2020 年 12 月 17 日。对接受胃肠手术的儿童（0-18 岁）进行的前瞻性研究报告了术后肠梗阻或肠功能恢复的定义和/或结果测量。 。提取了定义和结果测量。从 4,027 篇参考文献中，纳入了 71 篇文章。在 17 篇提到术后肠梗阻的文章中，8 篇 (47%) 提供了定义。总共使用了 34 项结果指标，其中 12 项是独特的。“腹胀”是报告最多的指标（41%）。41% 的患者的结果指标仅描述了胃动力的恢复，而 18% 的患者则描述了肠道动力的恢复。67 篇文章提到了肠功能的恢复，但没有一篇提供定义。总共使用了 133 项结果指标，其中 37 项是独特的。口服摄入时间是报告最多的指标（14%）。49% 的患者的结果指标仅描述了胃动力的恢复，而 10% 的患者则描述了肠道动力的恢复。定义和结果测量的巨大差异限制了儿童术后肠功能研究的普遍性。如果没有标准化，就不可能比较研究结果和评估治疗方法。与成人相比，儿童胃动力的恢复似乎应该受到更多关注。因此，我们认为需要由多学科团队专门针对儿童制定术后肠梗阻的定义以及伴随的核心结果集。