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Citation:
Knipe H, Shah V, Strangulating bowel obstruction. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-75991
Strangulating or strangulated bowel obstruction refers to ischemia and/or infarction of an obstructed loop of bowel. It is most commonly seen in the setting of closed loop obstruction.
Strangulation complicates ~15% (10-23%) of bowel obstructions 1,2,4.
Strangulation can be caused by 3,4:
CT
The most specific finding of a strangulated bowel loop is reduced mural enhancement (~95%) and the most sensitive finding is mesenteric fluid (~90%) 1.
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1. Laura A. Fitzpatrick, Michael D. Rivers-Bowerman, Seng Thipphavong, Sharon E. Clarke, Judy A. Rowe, Andreu F. Costa. Pearls, Pitfalls, and Conditions that Mimic Mesenteric Ischemia at CT. (2020) RadioGraphics. 40 (2): 545-561. doi:10.1148/rg.2020190122 - Pubmed
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2. Fergus V. Coakley. Pearls and Pitfalls in Abdominal Imaging. (2010) ISBN: 9781139490627
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3. Sung E. Rha, Hyun K. Ha, Soo-Hyun Lee, Ji-Hoon Kim, Jeong-Kon Kim, Jung H. Kim, Pyo N. Kim, Moon-Gyu Lee, Yong-Ho Auh. CT and MR Imaging Findings of Bowel Ischemia from Various Primary Causes1. (2000) RadioGraphics. 20 (1): 29-42. doi:10.1148/radiographics.20.1.g00ja0629 - Pubmed
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4. Akira Furukawa, Shuzo Kanasaki, Naoaki Kono, Makoto Wakamiya, Toyohiko Tanaka, Masashi Takahashi, Kiyoshi Murata. CT Diagnosis of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia from Various Causes. (2012) American Journal of Roentgenology. 192 (2): 408-16. doi:10.2214/AJR.08.1138 - Pubmed
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