title: Spectrum of causes of intestinal obstruction in adult Nigerian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present changes in the cause of intestinal obstruction in an African setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive cases of acute intestinal obstruction from 1985 to 1994.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients with clinical and radiological evidence of intestinal obstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 99 patients (60 males) aged 15 - 101 years (mean age 45 years). The majority of patients were young and middle-aged adults. Main causes of obstruction included adhesion (N = 44), volvulus (N =15), external hernias (N = 11), colorectal carcinoma (N = 10) and intussusception (N = 8). Approximately two-thirds of patients (28/44) with adhesion had had previous abdominal operations. The overall mortality was 14%, mainly owing to strangulation obstruction and colonic malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing role of adhesions as a cause of acute intestinal obstruction demands greater need for routine preventive measures against adhesion formation.
authors: Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Hospitals Complex, Ile-lfe, Nigeria.
authors: Oladejo O
authors: OO
authors: Lawal
authors: Olaniyi S
authors: OS
authors: Olayinka
authors: John O
authors: JO
authors: Bankole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000150:complications; D007443:Intussusception / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome