Using Bedside Small Bowel Follow-Through for Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction
Author Information
Author(s): Muacevic Alexander, Adler John R, Duy Lindsay A, Chen Pinyu, Wang Sean K, Chen Michael Y, Miller Preston R III, Terzian W.T. Hillman, Dyer Raymond B
Primary Institution: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Hypothesis
What is the contribution of bedside small bowel follow-through in managing suspected adhesive small bowel obstruction?
Conclusion
BSBFT helps determine the management for suspected ASBO, with patients showing colonic contrast more likely to be managed conservatively.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with colonic contrast on eight-hour or 24-hour images were more likely to be managed conservatively.
- Delays in managing ASBO are linked to longer hospital stays and increased mortality.
- BSBFT can lower rates of operative exploration and decrease length of stay.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a special test called BSBFT to see if patients with a blocked intestine can be treated without surgery. If the test shows contrast in the images, they might not need an operation.
Methodology
A retrospective analysis of 320 patients who underwent BSBFT from August 2015 to 2019 was performed, recording the presence of contrast in the colon and subsequent management.
Potential Biases
Patients were not matched to control, making it unclear what outcomes would have been without surgical intervention.
Limitations
The study is retrospective, limiting causality conclusions, and lacks longitudinal follow-up on patient outcomes.
Participant Demographics
Average age of participants was 63 years, with a range of 18-96 years; 46% were male.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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