Cost of bowel obstruction resulting from adhesions.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the direct costs associated with bowel obstruction resulting from adhesions.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University Hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
57 patients aged 16 years or older who fulfilled the clinical and radiological criteria of bowel obstruction.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Course of, and direct costs associated with, the illness.


RESULTS
In 34 of the 57 patients (60%) bowel obstruction was caused by adhesions, and in all 34 the small bowel was obstructed (85% of all cases of small bowel obstruction). 22 of the 42 patients who required a hospital stay of more than 24 hours (52%) had adhesive obstruction, and 10 of these (45%) had to be operated on, 2 of them twice. Major complications occurred in 6 (60%) and one died. In a national perspective, adhesive bowel obstruction may cause 2330 hospital admissions annually, which is associated with an estimated direct cost of about US$13 million.


CONCLUSIONS
Adhesions are a serious, common, and costly complication of surgery. Efforts have to be undertaken to control their formation.
Ivarsson
M L
ML
Department of Surgery, Ostra Hospital, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Holmdahl
L
L
Franzén
G
G
Risberg
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions