title: Predictive value of signs and symptoms for small bowel obstruction in patients with prior surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of various signs and symptoms for small bowel obstruction (SBO) in patients with prior abdominal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a secondary analysis of a previously reported prospective study of ultrasonography for SBO. Patients with prior abdominal surgery were identified and presenting signs and symptoms were compared to the CT diagnosis of SBO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No signs or symptoms were predictive of SBO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No constellation of signs and symptoms can be used to reliably exclude a SBO in patients with prior abdominal surgery.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, CA 90509, USA. tbj@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kaji
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed