ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the postoperative intestinal obstruction of gastrointestinal cancer. MethodThe clinical data of 58 patients with postoperative intestinal obstruction of gastrointestinal cancer from January 2011 to January 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsIn 58 patients with postoperative intestinal obstruction, there were 46 cases of incomplete intestinal obstruction, 12 cases of complete obstruction. Seventeen cases were treated conservatively and 41 cases were accepted laparotomy. The surgical exploration found that there were 4 cases of strangulated abdominal internal hernia, 4 cases of volvulus, 1 case of stercoral obstruction, 2 cases of intussusception, 9 cases of adhesive intestinal obstruction, and 21 cases of tumor recurrence. There were 32 patients with high tumor markers before laparotomy, including 19 cases of tumor recurrence. Fourteen cases had no obvious tumor lesions detected by PET-CT, but recurrence and metastasis were found by surgical exploration. ConclusionsThe recurrent postoperative intestinal obstruction of gastrointestinal cancer mostly means recurrence and metastasis, with poor prognosis. Early laparotomy may improve the prognosis and the quality of life, elevated tumor markers have some links with tumor recurrence and PET-CT is not sensitive for multiple nodular metastases.