Intestinal ischemia in patients in whom small bowel obstruction is suspected: evaluation of accuracy, limitations, and clinical implications of CT in diagnosis.

Abstract

CT enables accurate detection of bowel ischemia, particularly when small bowel obstruction is present. Exploratory laparotomy should be performed when unexplained disparities exist between equivocal CT findings and a deteriorating clinical condition in patients with possible small bowel obstruction or mesenteric infarction.