A hospital based observational study to evaluate the common etiological factor related to small bowel obstruction in adult patients

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the common etiological factor related to small bowel obstruction in adult patients. Material and methods:The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Surgery for the duration of 12 months. Ethical approval letter was obtained from the ethical review committee. Total 100 patients age above 15 years were studied after taking informed consent from patient/relatives. Results: 60 patients were male and 40 were females. All the patients were categorized in different age group, 19 patients belong to 15-25 years age group, 33 patients were in 26-40 years, 26 patients were in 41-55 years, 11 patients were in 56-70 years and remaining 11 were having age above 71 years. The cardinal signs and symptoms were present in almost all the patients. Abdominal pain was present in 97 patients, vomiting in 77 patients, tenderness in 90 patients, absolute constipation in 85 patients, abdominal distension in 92 patients, rebound tenderness in 52 patients, significant finding on per rectal examination in 8 patients, absent/decreased bowel sound in 34 patients, increased bowel sound in 65 patients and palpable mass and swelling was present in 24 patients. Out of 100 patients, Adhesions were present in 18 patients, Hernias in 20 patients, Malignancy in 10 patients, intestinal volvulus in 5 patients, diverticulum in 2 patients, strictures in 6 patients, intestinal tuberculosis in 10 patients, fecal impaction in 3 patients and superior mesenteric artery syndrome in 3 patients. Conclusion:The causes of intestinal obstruction are variable in different parts of the world. Adhesions are the most common cause of bowel obstruction. The treatment in each patient should be individualized. Atrial of conservative management should be planned in all cases before embarking to a surgical intervention except in patients where strangulation is suspected.