Predicting strangulated small bowel obstruction: an old problem revisited.
BACKGROUND
Diagnosing intestinal strangulation complicating a small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains a considerable challenge. Despite decades of experience and numerous studies, no clinical indicators have been identified that reliably predict this life-threatening condition. Our goal was to determine which clinical indicators in patients with SBO can be used to independently predict the presence of strangulated intestine.


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed for 192 adult patients operated on for acute SBO over an 11-year period (1996-2006). Seventy-two preoperative clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings at admission were examined. Data from patients with strangulated intestine were compared to data from patients without bowel compromise. Likelihood ratios were generated for each significant parameter in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Forty-four patients had bowel strangulation requiring bowel resection, and 148 had no strangulation. The most significant independent predictor of bowel strangulation was the computed tomography (CT) finding of reduced wall enhancement, with a sensitivity and specificity of 56% and 94% [likelihood ratio (LR) 9.3]. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and guarding were moderately predictive (LR 1.7 and 2.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Regression analysis of multiple preoperative criteria demonstrates that reduced wall enhancement on CT, peritoneal signs, and elevated WBC are the only variables independently predictive of bowel strangulation in patients with SBO.
Jancelewicz
Tim
T
Department of General Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Av. S320, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Vu
Lan T
LT
Shawo
Alexandra E
AE
Yeh
Benjamin
B
Gasper
Warren J
WJ
Harris
Hobart W
HW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult