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Introduction The purpose of this review was to assess the incidence and risk factors for adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) following laparotomy. Methods The PubMed database was systematically reviewed to identify studies in the English literature delineating the incidence of adhesive SBO and reporting risk factors for the development of this morbidity. Results A total of 446,331 abdominal operations were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. The overall incidence of SBO was 4.6%. The risk of SBO was highly influenced by the type of procedure, with ileal pouch–anal anastomosis being associated with the highest incidence of SBO (1,018 out of 5,268 cases or 19.3%), followed by open colectomy (11,491 out of 121,085 cases or 9.5%). Gynecological procedures were associated with an overall incidence of 11.1% (4,297 out of 38,751 cases) and ranged from 23.9% in open adnexal surgery, to 0.1% after cesarean section. The technique of the procedure (open vs. laparoscopic) also played a major role in the development of adhesive SBO. The incidence was 7.1% in open cholecystectomies vs. 0.2% in laparoscopic; 15.6% in open total abdominal hysterectomies vs. 0.0% in laparoscopic; and 23.9% in open adnexal operations vs. 0.0% in laparoscopic. There was no difference in SBO following laparoscopic or open appendectomies (1.4% vs. 1.3%). Separate closure of the peritoneum, spillage and retention of gallstones during cholecystectomy, and the use of starched gloves all increase the risk for adhesion formation. There is not enough evidence regarding the role of age, gender, and presence of cancer in adhesion formation. Conclusion Adhesion-related morbidity comprises a significant burden on healthcare resources and prevention is of major importance, especially in high-risk patients. Preventive techniques and special barriers should be considered in high-risk cases.

Background Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is characterized by a high rate of recurrence. In the present study, we aimed to compare the outcomes of patients managed either by conservative treatment or surgical operation for an episode of SBO. Methods The outcomes of all patients hospitalized at a single center for acute SBO between 2004 and 2007 were assessed. The occurrence of recurrent hospitalization, surgery, SBO symptoms at home, and mortality was determined. Results Among 221 patients admitted with SBO, 136 underwent a surgical procedure (surgical group) and 85 were managed conservatively (conservative group). Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups. The median follow-up time (interquartile range) was 4.7 (3.7–5.8) years. Nineteen patients (14.0 %) of the surgical group were hospitalized for recurrent SBO versus 25 (29.4 %) of the conservative group [hazard ratio (HR), 0.5; 95 % CI, 0.3–0.9]. The need for a surgical management of a new SBO episode was similar between the two groups, ten patients (7.4 %) in the surgical group and six patients (7.1 %) in the conservative group (HR, 1.1; 95 % CI, 0.4–3.1). Five-year mortality from the date of hospital discharge was not significantly different between the two groups (age- and sex-adjusted HR, 1.1; 95 % CI, 0.6–2.1). A follow-up evaluation was obtained for 130 patients. Among them, 24 patients (34.8 %) of the surgical group and 35 patients (57.4 %) of the conservative group had recurrent SBO symptoms (odds ratio, 0.4; 95 % CI, 0.2–0.8). Conclusions The recurrence of SBO symptoms and new hospitalizations were significantly lower after surgical management of SBO compared with conservative treatment.

Background Surgical training has long been to “never let the sun set on a bowel obstruction” without an operation to rule out and/or treat compromised bowel. However, advances in diagnostics have called into question the appropriate timing of non-emergent operations and expectant management is increasingly used. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of expectant management for adhesive small bowel obstruction (aSBO) compared to early, non-emergent operation. Materials & Methods We queried PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies (1990–present) comparing early, non-emergent operations and expectant management for aSBO (PROSPERO #CRD42017057676). Results Of 4873 studies, 29 cohort studies were included for full-text review. Four studies directly compared early surgery with expectant management, but none excluded patients who underwent emergent operations from those having early non-emergent surgery, precluding a direct comparison of the two treatment types of interest. When aggregated, the rate of bowel resection was 29% in patients undergoing early operation vs. 10% in those undergoing expectant management. The rate of successful, non-operative management in the expectant group was 58%. There was a 1.3-day difference in LOS favoring expectant management (LOS 9.7 vs. 8.4 days), and the rate of death was 2% in both groups. Conclusion Despite the shift towards expectant management of aSBO, no published studies have yet compared early, non-emergent operation and expectant management. A major limitation in evaluating the outcomes of these approaches using existing studies is confounding by indication related to including patients with emergent indications for surgery on admission in the early operative group. A future study, randomizing patients to early non-emergent surgery or expectant management, should inform the comparative safety and value of these approaches.

Background Proper management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) requires a methodology to prevent nontherapeutic laparotomy while minimizing the chance of overlooking strangulation obstruction causing intestinal ischemia. Our aim was to identify preoperative risk factors associated with strangulating SBO and to develop a model to predict the need for operative intervention in the presence of an SBO. Our hypothesis was that free intraperitoneal fluid on computed tomography (CT) is associated with the presence of bowel ischemia and need for exploration. Methods We reviewed 100 consecutive patients with SBO, all of whom had undergone CT that was reviewed by a radiologist blinded to outcome. The need for operative management was confirmed retrospectively by four surgeons based on operative findings and the patient’s clinical course. Results Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, who required operative management on retrospective review, and group 2 who did not. Four patients who were treated nonoperatively had ischemia or died of malignant SBO and were then included in group 1; two patients who had a nontherapeutic exploration were included in group 2. On univariate analysis, the need for exploration ( n  = 48) was associated ( p  < 0.05) with a history of malignancy (29% vs. 12%), vomiting (85% vs. 63%), and CT findings of either free intraperitoneal fluid (67% vs. 31%), mesenteric edema (67% vs. 37%), mesenteric vascular engorgement (85% vs. 67%), small bowel wall thickening (44% vs. 25%) or absence of the “small bowel feces sign” (so-called fecalization) (10% vs. 29%). Ischemia ( n  = 11) was associated ( p  < 0.05 each) with peritonitis (36% vs. 1%), free intraperitoneal fluid (82% vs. 44%), serum lactate concentration (2.7 ± 1.6 vs. 1.3 ± 0.6 mmol/l), mesenteric edema (91% vs. 46%), closed loop obstruction (27% vs. 2%), pneumatosis intestinalis (18% vs. 0%), and portal venous gas (18% vs. 0%). On multivariate analysis, free intraperitoneal fluid [odds ratio (OR) 3.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–9.9], mesenteric edema (OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.3–9.6), lack of the “small bowel feces sign” (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.68), and a history of vomiting (OR 4.67, 95% CI 1.5–14.4) were independent predictors of the need for operative exploration ( p  < 0.05 each). The combination of vomiting, no “small bowel feces sign,” free intraperitoneal fluid, and mesenteric edema had a sensitivity of 96%, and a positive predictive value of 90% (OR 16.4, 95% CI 3.6–75.4) for requiring exploration. Conclusion Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic factors should all be considered when making a decision about treatment of SBO. The four clinical features—intraperitoneal free fluid, mesenteric edema, lack of the “small bowel feces sign,” history of vomiting—are predictive of requiring operative intervention during the patient’s hospital stay and should be factored strongly into the decision-making algorithm for operative versus nonoperative treatment.

Background Emergency laparotomy is a high-risk procedure regarding short-term outcomes; however, long-term outcomes are not well described. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of chronic postoperative pain, pain-related functional impairment, and incisional hernias and to evaluate the gastrointestinal quality of life after emergency laparotomy due to small bowel obstruction. Methods This study was a questionnaire study, conducted at a major gastrointestinal-surgery department in a single tertiary university hospital in Denmark. Patients who had been through emergency laparotomy due to small bowel obstruction were included in the study. The extent of acute and chronic postoperative pain and the prevalence of incisional hernias were examined with specially designed questionnaires, while the pain quality was assed by the self-report version of the S-LANSS-questionnaire. Pain-related functional impairment and quality of life were measured using the AAS and the GIQLI questionnaire, respectively. Results A total of 90 patients returned the questionnaire (response rate 82 %). Nineteen patients (21 %) suffered from chronic postoperative pain. Seventeen patients (19 %) had pain-related functional impairment as a result of the surgery, and 17 patients (19 %) had an incisional hernia at follow-up. Patients with chronic postoperative pain had significantly lower gastrointestinal quality of life score compared with the remaining study population (109 (IQR 39) vs. 127 (IQR 19), P  < 0.001). Conclusions Chronic postoperative pain is a common long-term complication after emergency laparotomy, and it is related to decreased quality of life. These results should be confirmed in prospective studies.

Background Selected patients with adhesion-related chronic abdominal pain can be treated effectively by adhesiolysis with the application of adhesion barriers. These patients might also have an increased risk to develop adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). It is unknown how frequently these patients develop ASBO, and how elective adhesiolysis for pain impacts the risk of ASBO. Methods Patients with adhesion-related chronic pain were included in this cohort study with long-term follow-up. The diagnosis of adhesions was confirmed using CineMRI. The decision for operative treatment of adhesions was made by shared agreement based on the correlation of complaints with CineMRI findings. The primary outcome was the 5-years incidence of readmission for ASBO. Incidence was compared between patients with elective adhesiolysis and those treated non-operatively and between patients with and without previous ASBO. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for ASBO. Secondary outcomes included reoperation for ASBO and self-reported pain and other abdominal symptoms. Results A total of 122 patients were included, 69 patients underwent elective adhesiolysis. Thirty patients in both groups had previous episodes of ASBO in history. During 5-year follow-up, the readmission rate for ASBO was 6.5% after elective adhesiolysis compared to 26.9% after non-operative treatment ( p  = 0.012). These percentages were 13.3% compared to 40% in the subgroup of patients with previous episodes of ASBO ( p  = 0.039). In multivariable analysis, elective adhesiolysis was associated with a decreased risk of readmission for ASBO with an odds ratio of 0.21 (95% CI 0.07–0.65), the risk was increased in patients with previous episodes with a odds ratio of 19.2 (95% CI 2.5–144.4). There was no difference between the groups in the prevalence of self-reported abdominal pain. However, in surgically treated patients the impact of pain on daily activities was lower, and the incidence of other symptoms was lower. Conclusion More than one in four patients with chronic adhesion-related pain develop episodes of ASBO when treated non-operatively. Elective adhesiolysis reduces the incidence of ASBO in patients with chronic adhesion-related symptoms, both in patients with and without previous episodes of ASBO in history. Trial registration The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov under NCT01236625.

The window for safe reoperation in early postoperative (<6 weeks) small bowel obstruction (ESBO) is short and intimately dependent on elapsed time from the initial operation. Laparoscopic procedures create fewer inflammatory changes than open laparotomies. We hypothesize that it is safer to reoperate for ESBO after laparoscopic procedures than open. Review of patients who underwent re-exploration for ESBO from 2003 to 2009 was performed. Based on the initial operation, patients were classified as “open” or “laparoscopic.” The Revised Accordion Severity Grading System was used to define complications as minor (1 to 2) or severe (3 to 6). There were 189 patients identified (age 55 years, 48% male): 130 open and 59 laparoscopic. Adhesive disease was more common (65% vs 42%, P < .01), while strictures were less frequent (5% vs 14% P = .03), in the open group. The open group had a greater rate of malignancy, days to re-exploration, and severity of complications. There was no difference in the rates of minor complications, enterotomy, and mortality. ESBO after laparoscopic surgery was more commonly caused by a focal source (85% vs 63%). Eighty-three patients (64 open, 19 laparoscopic) underwent re-exploration at or beyond 14 days. Within this subgroup, there were more severe complications (25% vs 5%) after open procedures with equivalent mortality (4% vs 0%). Laparoscopic approaches confer a lower rate of adhesive disease and severity of complications in early SBO as compared with open surgery even if performed after 2 weeks of index procedure.

PurposeRice cakes have not been recognized as a cause of small bowel obstruction (SBO) worldwide. We compared clinical and CT findings of rice cake SBO versus SBO due to bezoars, the most common cause of food-induced SBO.MethodsTwenty-four patients with rice cake SBO (n = 17) or bezoar SBO (n = 7) were retrospectively evaluated for clinical findings and the following multi-detector CT (MDCT) features: identification of the transition zone, presence of intraluminal lesions, degree of obstruction, and length and attenuation of obstructing materials. Categorical variables were compared by Fisher’s exact test, and continuous variables by independent t test.ResultsNone of the rice cake SBO patients required surgery, whereas 4/7 (57%) bezoar SBO patients underwent surgery. On MDCT, rice cake residues were recognized as well-defined intraluminal lesions of shorter length (29.8 ± 4.6 mm vs. 47.7 ± 10.8 mm for bezoars; p < 0.0001) and higher attenuation (106 ± 27.8 HU vs. − 62.8 ± 14.7 HU for bezoars; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsRice cake SBO patients did not require surgery. On MDCT, rice cake residues were significantly shorter and higher in attenuation than bezoars. These findings facilitate diagnosis and support the conservative management of rice cake SBO.

Background Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a well‐known major postoperative complication requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment to avoid additional invasive surgical procedures. Water‐soluble contrast medium is often given not only for diagnosis but also for treatment. Although numerous studies have investigated the significance of this treatment, no consensus has yet been established regarding its indications and efficacy. Objective To explore whether Gastrografin can reduce the need for additional surgery in patients with postoperative SBO (PSBO). Methods We carried out a comprehensive electronic search of the literature (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed and the Web of Science) up to February 2017 to identify studies that had shown efficacy of Gastrografin in reducing the need for surgery in patients with PSBO. To integrate the individual effects of Gastrografin, a meta‐analysis was done using random‐effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 statistics. Results Twelve studies involving a total of 1153 patients diagnosed as having PSBO were included in this meta‐analysis. Not all patients received long‐tube insertion. Among 580 patients who received Gastrografin, 100 (17.2%) underwent surgery, whereas among 573 patients who did not receive Gastrografin, 143 (25.0%) underwent surgery. Giving Gastrografin significantly reduced the need for surgery (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46‐0.95; P = 0.02; I2 = 52%) in comparison with patients who did not receive Gastrografin. Conclusion Results of this meta‐analysis show that giving Gastrografin reduces the need for surgery in PSBO patients without long‐tube insertion. Gastrografin reduces the need for additional surgery in patients with postoperative small bowel obstruction.