Emergency department patients with small bowel obstruction: What is the anticipated clinical course?

Abstract

Patients with a history of SBO were less likely to require operative intervention at any point during their hospitalization. Abnormal bloodwork was not associated with operative intervention. The CT finding of a hernia, however, predicted the need for operative intervention, while other findings (ascites, duodenal thickening) did not. Further research would be helpful to construct a prediction rule, which could help community EPs determine which patients may benefit from expedited transfer for operative management, and which patients could be safely managed conservatively as an initial treatment strategy.