Impact of Operative Management on Recurrence of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: A Longitudinal Analysis of a Statewide Database

Abstract

Recurrence of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) can lead to multiple admissions. There is limited knowledge of the role of operative and nonoperative treatment in the long-term recurrence risk for ASBO. We sought to determine the effect of operative and nonoperative management on future ASBO recurrences. This is a retrospective study of administrative discharge data from the Tennessee Hospital Association. Adult discharges from 2007 to 2009 with ASBO and all subsequent readmission within any hospital in the state were included; patients with earlier ASBO from 2003 to 2007 and out-of-state residents were excluded. ASBO recurrence was compared between operative and nonoperative approaches using the Andersen-Gill approach for modeling recurrent time-to-event data. Secondary outcomes included mortality, complication, and time to recurrence. We analyzed 6,191 records; 30.0% were initially treated operatively. Patients initially managed surgically had lower overall recurrence rates (19.0% vs 25.6%; p < 0.005). The hazard for recurrence was lower if the most recent ASBO management was operative (hazard ratio 0.27; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.31). The risk of ASBO recurrence increased with more cumulative operative or nonoperative ASBO admissions relative to patients with fewer earlier admissions (operative: hazard ratio 2.30; 95% CI, 2.04 to 2.60 and nonoperative: hazard ratio 1.18; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.20). In-hospital mortality rate (3.7% vs 2.6%; p= 0.025) and time to recurrence (729 vs 550 days; p= 0.009) were greater in the operative group. Operative management for the most recent ASBO is associated with fewer recurrences. Subsequent cumulative recurrences of ASBO predispose to recurrence regardless of operative or nonoperative management. When considering ASBO management, subsequent recurrence should be considered.