To investigate the clinical features and principles of diagnosis and treatment of early postoperative inflammatory ileus (EPII). The clinical data of 69 patients with EPII treated in this hospital were retrospectively reviewed. EPII mostly occurred in 3-11d after abdominal surgery, and the average time was 5d. Sixty two cases were cured in a mean period of (22±13)d through combination therapy including gastroenteral decompression, somatostatin, dexamethasone and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Seven cases were cured by operation. EPII is a special type of early intestinal obstruction which often occurs in two weeks after abdominal operation. Its typical symptoms are abdominal distension; conservative therapy is effective for most cases and reoperation is usually contradicted.