Relatively Short Diagnostic Delays (<8 Hours) Produce Morbidity and Mortality in Blunt Small Bowel Injury: An Analysis of Time to Operative Intervention in 198 Patients from a Multicenter Experience

Abstract

Delays in the diagnosis of SBI are directly responsible for almost half the deaths in this series. Even relatively brief delays (as little as 8 hours) result in morbidity and mortality directly attributable to "missed" SBI. Further investigation into the prompt diagnosis of this injury is needed.