The Pattern of Acute Intestinal Obstruction: A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intestinal obstruction is a surgical emergency that causes confusion both in the diagnosis and the management. It is related by important disease and mortality. The goal of this study was to classify the etiology, to analyse the methods of performance of acute duodenal obstruction in different age groups, various therapeutic modalities of treatment, to accomplish operative management, anticipate the post-operative complications and outcomes of patients with acute intestinal obstruction. MATERIAL& METHODS: 82 patients of all age groups (except infants) presenting with acute intestinal obstruction were studied between June 2017 and December 2018 in a multispeciality hospital in Eastern India. Patients with history of subacute intestinal obstruction and paralytic ileus were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Males were found to be affected much more than females. Pain abdomen was the most common symptom found in 94% cases followed by distension and vomiting in 86.6% and 68.3% cases respectively. Most common etiology of intestinal obstruction was due to adhesion and bands (40.3%) followed by obstructed hernia (22%) and malignancy (17%). The most common procedure done in intestinal obstruction in present study was release of adhesions and bands (37.8%) followed by resection and anastomosis (26.8%). CONCLUSION: Bowel obstruction continues to be one of the most common abdominal problems faced by general surgeons. Success in the treatment of intestinal obstruction depends largely upon early diagnosis, skilful management and treating the pathological effects of the obstruction just as much as the cause itself.

Etiology and management outcomes of adult mechanical bowel obstruction in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…It adversely impacts the lives of millions of individuals, resulting in a considerable healthcare financial load and burden in Africa and beyond. [26][27][28] Abdominal pain is the most common symptom among patients in this review, occurring in over 90% of patients with AMBO. 1,2,4,5 Other symptoms are abdominal distension, vomiting, constipation, obstipation, rectal bleeding, and diarrhea.…”

“…Several studies have also reported wound infection as the most common complication from management of AMBO. 26,27,34,47 6 reported that most cases of wound infection in their study were surgical site infections which resolved with regular dressing while others which were organ abscesses were managed either with ultrasoundguided percutaneous aspiration or by drainage with repeat exploratory laparotomy. Other complications were recurrent adhesions and postoperative enterocutaneous fistula, most of which were reported to resolve on conservative management or repeat exploratory laparotomy.…”