OBJECTIVE: To conduct a preliminary study on the clinical use of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP). METHODS: Thirty-two cases, aged 4 months to 7 years, were hospitalized in the pediatric department of Ask Hospital from June to October 2004. Experimental group: 5 cases of intussusception, 10 cases of complete intestinal obstruction, and the length of the diseased intestinal canal was recorded. Control group: 8 cases of appendicitis, 4 cases of gastroenteritis, 2 cases of intestinal adhesions, 1 case of gastric ulcer, and 2 cases of hydronephrosis. All children were admitted to the hospital and 2 mL of venous blood was drawn. The I-FABP content was measured by EUSA kit. RESULTS: The I-FABP in the experimental and control groups were (1,237.66±747.27) ng/mL and (81.77±29.60) ng/mL, respectively (P<0.001). The preoperative I-FABP was positively correlated with the length of canal painful changes (r: 0.855). Postoperative I-FABP levels decreased rapidly in patients with intestinal necrosis. CONCLUSION: I-FABP is a more sensitive biological indicator of intestinal ischemia.