Small bowel obstruction (summary)
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Small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for 80% of all mechanical intestinal obstruction; the remaining 20% result from large bowel obstruction. It has a mortality rate of 5.5%.
Reference article
This is a summary article for small bowel obstruction. However, we do have a more in-depth reference article: small bowel obstruction.
Summary
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epidemiology 1
- 80% of all mechanical bowel obstruction
- average age: 64 years
- females comprise 60% of patients
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presentation
- abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting
- the level will determine the acuity of presentation
- high obstruction presents early, possibly with bilious vomiting
- lower obstruction presents late and may have faeculent vomiting
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pathologypathophysiology- may be complete or incomplete
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causes- adhesional SBO:
occursalmost exclusively from prior surgery - herniae (often femoral or inguinal, but incisional occur)
- foreign bodies or other masses, e.g. gallstones
- rare: small bowel tumours causing intussusception
- adhesional SBO:
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radiologyinvestigation- CT is the most sensitive imaging modality
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treatment
- initial treatment is supportive with decompression (NG) and IV fluids
- in some cases, conservative management fails and surgery is required
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prognosis
- depends on the cause and whether complications occur
- mortality of 5.5% where there are complications:
- ischaemia
- perforation
Role of imaging
- confirm obstruction
- demonstrate cause
- find the transition point
- identify any complications, e.g. ischaemia or perforation
Radiographic features
There are a number of ways to investigate small bowel obstruction. A plain radiograph has been the traditional tool for initial assessment and while CT has reduced its use, it remains a tool used by many.
Plain radiograph (AXR)
- dilated small bowel loops (providing they are filled with gas)
- if they are fluid-filled, you will not be able to see them
- small bowel loops
- tend to be more central than large bowel
- have valvulae conniventes that traverse the lumen completely
- the cause may be demonstrated, e.g. gas in the femoral canal
CT
- dilated loops of small bowel
- the dilated bowel may be gas- or fluid-filled
- transition point at the site of obstruction
- the cause will be at the transition point
- if no cause is demonstrated, it's likely secondary to adhesions
-<strong>pathology</strong><ul>-<li>may be complete or incomplete</li>-<li>causes<ul>-<li>adhesional SBO: occurs almost exclusively from prior surgery</li>- +<strong>pathophysiology</strong><ul><li>may be complete or incomplete<ul>
- +<li>adhesional SBO: almost exclusively from prior surgery</li>
-</li>-</ul>- +</li></ul>
-<strong>radiology</strong><ul><li>CT is the most sensitive imaging modality</li></ul>- +<strong>investigation</strong><ul><li>CT is the most sensitive imaging modality</li></ul>
-<li>identify any complications</li>- +<li>identify any complications, e.g. ischaemia or perforation</li>