title: Intestinal obstruction and perforation--the role of the surgeon.
abstract: Intestinal obstruction and perforation are always a challenge for the surgeon, not only in respect to the surgical option offered to the patient, but also to the ability to accurately diagnose and stage the disease. The understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanism is also very important in order to classify each patient in order to receive the more appropriate treatment. Mechanisms of obstruction and perforation, methods of diagnosis as well as prevention and treatment of the disease were reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Pancreatic Unit, 1st Department of Surgery, Agia Olga Hospital, Athens, Greece. chrisder@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dervenis
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Filippou
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avgerinos
mesh_terms: D003112:Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015607:Stents; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control