Diagnosis Of Bowel Obstruction Research Articles

A RARE CASE OF TRANSMESOCOLIC HERNIATION OF SMALL BOWELTHROUGH A CONGENITAL DEFECT PRESENTING AS A CLOSED BOWEL OBSTRUCTION - A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW OF REPAIRS OF INTERNAL HERNIAS

Transmesocolic hernia is an uncommon type of Internal hernia with incidence ranging from approximately 5–10% of all Internal Hernias. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a transmesocolic hernia in adults without any surgical history or trauma. Small bowel loops were found herniating into the supracolic compartment through a congenital defect in transverse mesocolon presenting clinically as Small Bowel obstruction. A 20-year-old man was admitted with clinical features of intestinal obstruction. An abdominal X-ray showed multiple small bowel loops with air fluid levels. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen revealed small bowel obstruction not only on the right, but also on the left side of the collapsed descending colon. Emergency Exploratory Laprotomy was performedand bowel loops with discolouration seen enclosed in hernial sac in supracolic compartment which were milked out of defect and observed to have obtained vascularity almost immediately. The postoperative period was uneventful. Preoperative diagnosis of bowel obstruction caused by a transmesocolic hernia remains difficult despite the currently available imaging techniques. Prompt surgery can prevent serious complications such as Bowel gangrene, peritonitis and sepsis.

Deep learning for automatic bowel-obstruction identification on abdominal CT.

Automated evaluation of abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans should help radiologists manage their massive workloads, thereby leading to earlier diagnoses and better patient outcomes. Our objective was to develop a machine-learning model capable of reliably identifying suspected bowel obstruction (BO) on abdominal CT. The internal dataset comprised 1345 abdominal CTs obtained in 2015-2022 from 1273 patients with suspected BO; among them, 670 were annotated as BO yes/no by an experienced abdominal radiologist. The external dataset consisted of 88 radiologist-annotated CTs. We developed a full preprocessing pipeline for abdominal CT comprising a model to locate the abdominal-pelvic region and another model to crop the 3D scan around the body. We built, trained, and tested several neural-network architectures for the binary classification (BO, yes/no) of each CT. F1 and balanced accuracy scores were computed to assess model performance. The mixed convolutional network pretrained on a Kinetics 400 dataset achieved the best results: with the internal dataset, the F1 score was 0.92, balanced accuracy 0.86, and sensitivity 0.93; with the external dataset, the corresponding values were 0.89, 0.89, and 0.89. When calibrated on sensitivity, this model produced 1.00 sensitivity, 0.84 specificity, and an F1 score of 0.88 with the internal dataset; corresponding values were 0.98, 0.76, and 0.87 with the external dataset. The 3D mixed convolutional neural network developed here shows great potential for the automated binary classification (BO yes/no) of abdominal CT scans from patients with suspected BO. The 3D mixed CNN automates bowel obstruction classification, potentially automating patient selection and CT prioritization, leading to an enhanced radiologist workflow. • Bowel obstruction's rising incidence strains radiologists. AI can aid urgent CT readings. • Employed 1345 CT scans, neural networks for bowel obstruction detection, achieving high accuracy and sensitivity on external testing. • 3D mixed CNN automates CT reading prioritization effectively and speeds up bowel obstruction diagnosis.

Abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS): a case report of a Chinese male diagnosed idiopathic ACS with inborn short intestine

Introduction and importance: Abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS), as a rare cause of mechanical intestinal obstruction, can be divided into primary/idiopathic vs. secondary type. The primary ACS is often asymptomatic and only diagnosed in exploratory laparotomy. The major treatment of surgery can be challenging. Since the gut wall and peritoneum are densely adhered, gut perforation might occur during adhesiolysis. Thus, it is important to have an experienced surgeon to perform the surgery. Case presentation: The authors present a primary ACS case of a 50-year-old man. The patient demonstrated an unbearable upper abdominal pain upon admission. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a severe bowel obstruction. An exploratory laparotomy was indicated, leading to the diagnosis of ACS, which was considered idiopathic after ruling out secondary factors. An adhesiolysis was performed successfully. Note that the entire intestine measured was only 2.1 m during the surgery. There was no post-surgical complication. The patient was recovered uneventfully. Clinical discussion: The aetiology of primary ACS is unknown. The incidence is comparatively low and considered equal between men and women. As a rare cause of gut obstruction, the suspicion of the diagnosis should be strengthened. Surgery including adhesiolysis and bowel resection remains the major treatment. If adhesiolysis fails, bowel resection will be inevitable. The knowledge and experience of surgeon will be tested. Conclusion: The aetiology of primary ACS should be further explored. And the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction should cover ACS in order for the surgeon to be prepared before surgery.

Determining the Optimal Energy Level of Virtual Monoenergetic Images in Dual-Source CT for Diagnosis of Bowel Obstruction and Colitis

Images from 64 patients undergoing an enhanced abdominal-pelvis scan at portal phase in dual-energy CT mode for the diagnosis of colitis or bowel obstruction were retrospectively analyzed. Acquisitions were performed on a third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT) 100/Sn150 kVp. Mixed images were generated, as well as virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) at 40/50/60/70 keV. Objective image quality was assessed on VMIs and mixed images by measuring contrast, noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Noise, smoothing and overall image quality were subjectively analyzed by two radiologists using Likert scales. For both patient groups, the noise decreased significantly according to the energy level from 40 to 60 keV by −47.2 ± 24.0% for bowel obstruction and −50.4 ± 18.2% for colitis. It was similar between 60 and 70 keV (p = 0.475 and 0.059, respectively). Noise values were significantly higher in VMIs than in mixed images, except for 70 keV (p = 0.53 and 0.071, respectively). Similar results were observed for contrast values, with a decrease between 40 and 70 keV of −56.3 ± 7.9% for bowel obstruction −56.2 ± 10.9% for colitis. The maximum CNR value was found at 60 keV compared to other energy levels and mixed images, but there was no significant difference with the other energy levels apart from 70 keV (−9.7 ± 9.8%) for bowel obstruction and 40 keV (−6.6 ± 8.2%) and 70 keV (−5.8 ± 9.2%) for colitis. The VMIs at 60 keV presented higher scores for all criteria for bowel obstruction and colitis, with no significant difference in smoothing score compared to mixed images (p = 0.119 and p = 0.888, respectively).

Retained Foreign Body, Still a Reality and Consequence of Non-use of the WHO Surgical Safety Check Lists in Tropical Surgery

Adhesions are a major cause of acute abdomen in previously operated patients. The presence of a retained foreign body in the abdomen is a leading factor in the development of post-operative adhesion. It is, therefore important to take all necessary measures to avoid retained foreign bodies in the abdomen, as this increases the risk of developing post-operative adhesions and complications. A 32yr old female with a relevant past surgical history of an emergency laparotomy indicated for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy presented as an emergency 3 months after the above surgery at a tropical regional hospital with signs of generalized peritonism, following a brief history of sudden onset of lower abdominal pains. A diagnosis of bowel obstruction was made. Resuscitation was done, followed by an emergency exploratory laparotomy. It revealed the presence of a retained foreign body (gauze in our case), surrounded by multiple adhesion around the ileo-cecal junction with 2 meters of ischemic small bowel. Adhesion lysis was done, foreign body was extracted, the ischemic bowel was resected, and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed using Lambert’s technique. The patient had a smooth recovery. Implementing the effective use of the WHO surgical checklists before incision and before closing the abdomen will prevent foreign body retention, hence reducing post-operative complications. Keywords: Adhesions, Bowel obstruction, Retained foreign body.

Torsion of a Pedunculated Parietal Lipoma: A Rare Cause of Bowel Obstruction

Lipomas of the small intestine are rare benign tumors, often asymptomatic and rarely complicating intestinal obstruction. Acute manifestations, such as partial or complete obstruction, are uncommon. We report a case of intestinal obstruction due to torsion of a pedunculated parietal lipoma in a 36-year-old woman admitted for acute abdominal pain with an absence of passage of flatus and feces. CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of bowel obstruction and showed a fatty mass. Surgery consisted of a tumerectomy. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a lipocytic lipoma.

Trocar site hernia after laparoscopy: Early recognition prevents catastrophic sequelae

BackgroundTrocar site hernia is a rare but potentially serious complication of laparoscopic surgery that may lead to bowel incarceration and strangulation. Prompt diagnosis by emergency physicians facilitates timely intervention that prevents bowel necrosis. We report a case of trocar site hernia presenting to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain that was correctly diagnosed and promptly managed. Case ReportA 25-year-old woman, gravida 2, abortion 2, underwent outpatient surgery and laparoscopic removal of a ruptured right-sided tubal pregnancy without any intraoperative difficulties. However, 48 h later, she presented to the ED complaining of acute abdominal pain and nausea. Computed tomography revealed a loop of small bowel herniating through a 12-mm right lower quadrant trocar site defect in the fascia. She was taken back to the operating room, where the computed tomography findings were confirmed and the entrapped bowel was successfully reduced and the fascial defect repaired. The patient was discharged home feeling much improved. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Trocar site hernia is a rare but potentially dangerous complication that can present with acute symptoms or be asymptomatic if late in onset. Intestinal necrosis begins as soon as 6 h after constriction of blood flow to entrapped bowel, so timely intervention is critically important. Therefore, trocar site hernias should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal complaints after laparoscopic surgery and included in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction.

Clinicopathological characteristics and management of patients with early readmission to our surgical oncology clinic

Objectives: This study aimed to discuss the frequency of early readmission to the hospital after discharge in our oncology clinic, clinicopathological features, and management of these patients in light of current literature. Methods: The medical records of 237 early readmitted patients within 30 days of discharge in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized according to their first diagnosis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, demographic, clinicopathological characteristics, readmission reasons, first treatment type, postoperative complications, the time of application after discharge and the type of treatment after admission.Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.45 years, 57.4% were female, and the mean readmission time after discharge was 11.54 days. The most common primary diagnosis was gastric cancer (35.9%), and the most common emergency pathology requiring hospitalization was ileus-subileus (45.1%). After readmission, 42.6% of the patients received medical treatment. 60% of the readmitted patients had postoperative complications before discharge. Patients who had postoperative complications during the first hospitalization were more likely to have major or minor interventions after readmission (p < 0.01). Admission with a diagnosis of bowel obstruction was associated with the probability of major intervention (p < 0.01). Patients with an ECOG performance score of ≥2 was more frequently administered medical treatment (p = 0.001). Patients admitted with the diagnosis of anastomotic leak/abscess had a higher probability of having postoperative complications (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Readmissions are a concern for all healthcare providers, including comprehensive cancer centers. Recent health policies strive to reduce preventable admissions. Hence, we believe focusing on postoperative complications, and palliative care services is necessary.

TU4.3 Caecal volvulus: A District General Hospital Experience and Review of the Literature

Abstract Aim Caecal volvulus (CV) is an uncommon cause of large bowel obstruction with potential for complications such as ischaemia, and perforation. Prompt diagnosis and treatment only will ensure better outcomes. We aim to describe our experience in the largest series of CV reported in the United Kingdom. Methodology This was a retrospective study of 16 consecutive patients diagnosed with CV between March 2017 and March 2020. Results Out of 16 patients, 11 were female, with a median age of 64 (range 33–80) years. All patients presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. An initial diagnosis of bowel obstruction was made only in 8 patients (50%). Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis correctly diagnosed CV in fourteen (87.5%). Fifteen patients (94%) underwent surgical intervention. All but one (n=14,93.4%) underwent laparotomy, and one patient (6.6%) underwent successful laparoscopic intervention. Right hemicolectomy was performed in all operated patients, and fourteen patients (93.4%) had primary anastomosis. Twelve patients (80%) had one or other form of morbidity. Seven patients (47%) and three patients (20%) had grade II and III (Clavien-Dindo Classification) complications respectively with a median hospital stay of 10 (range 1–49) days. One patient (6.7%) managed conservatively was deemed to be futile. There was no postoperative mortality. Conclusion CV can present with non-specific symptoms, and a definite preoperative diagnosis is only possible with the aid of CT. Open resectional procedures with primary anastomosis is the most favoured approach in management, though laparoscopic access is also feasible in fit patients.

Small bowel obstruction in older patients: challenges in surgical management.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common disease affecting all segments of the population, including the frail elderly. Recent retrospective data suggest that earlier operative intervention may decrease morbidity. However, management decisions are influenced by surgical outcomes. Our goal was to determine the current surgical management of SBO in older patients with particular attention to frailty and the timing of surgery. A retrospective review of patients over the age of 65 with a diagnosis of bowel obstruction (ICD-10 K56*) using the 2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Demographics included age, race, insurance status, medical comorbidities, and median household income by zip code. Elixhauser comorbidities were used to derive a previously published frailty score using the NIS dataset. Outcomes included time to operation, mortality, discharge disposition, and hospital length of stay. Associations between demographics, frailty, timing of surgery, and outcomes were determined. 264,670 patients were included. Nine percent of the cohort was frail; overall mortality was 5.7%. Frail had 1.82 increased odds of mortality (95% CI 1.64-2.03). Hospital LOS was 1.6 times as long for frail patients; a quarter of the frail were discharged home. Frail patients waited longer for surgery (3.58days vs 2.44days; p < 0.001). Patients transferred from another facility had increased mortality (aOR 1.58; 95% CI 1.36-1.83). There was an increasing mortality associated with a delay in surgery. Patients with frailty and SBO have higher mortality, more frequent discharge to dependent living, longer hospital length of stay, and longer wait to operative intervention. Mortality is also associated with male gender, black race, transfer status from another facility, self-pay status, and low household income. Every day in delay in surgical intervention for those who underwent operations led to higher mortality. If meeting operative indications, older patients with bowel obstruction have a higher chance of survival if they undergo surgery earlier.

A Strangulated Congenital Diaphragmatic Bochdalek Hernia Diagnosed in an Adult

Although Bochdalek hernias are uncommon in adults and difficult to diagnose, such congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDHs) are some of the most serious malformations among newborns. In particular, CDHs are accompanied by high mortality and marked disability later in life due to concomitant morbidity (i.e., caused by pulmonary lung hypoplasia and persisting pulmonary hypertension of neonates) and require long-lasting neonatal treatment in an intensive care unit. Late-diagnosed CDHs are extremely rare and always show small defects that justify a better prognosis than CDHs with large defects. In most cases, such CDHs go undiagnosed due to their mild, delayed symptoms. In the case described here, an 18-year-old Asian male presented with abdominal pain and a bowel contour in the epigastric region and left upper quadrant. A chest X-ray and thoracoabdominal computerized tomography scan confirmed the diagnosis of bowel obstruction due to a left diaphragmatic hernia. Moreover, a defect was revealed in the posterolateral left diaphragm, and the transverse colon, spleen, and half of the stomach had herniated through it. A segmentectomy was performed on the transverse colon, followed by an end-to-end anastomosis, a diaphragmatic plasty, and the placement of an intrapleural catheter. In conclusion, diagnosing a diaphragmatic hernia before surgery can be difficult due to its rarity and wide range of symptoms. Although prenatal diagnosis using ultrasonography is possible in up to 80% of fetuses, that method may not be available in all regions in Indonesia or in all countries, where doctors thus continue to face a diagnostic challenge when dealing with CDHs.

Caecal Volvulus: A District General Hospital Experience and Review of the Literature

Background: Caecal volvulus (CV) is an uncommon cause of large bowel obstruction with potential for complications such as ischaemia and perforation. Prompt diagnosis and treatment only will ensure better outcomes. We aim to describe our experience in the largest series of CV reported in the United Kingdom. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 16 consecutive patients diagnosed with CV between March 2017 and March 2020. Results: Out of 16 patients, 11 were female, with a median age of 64 (range 33–80) years. All patients presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. An initial diagnosis of bowel obstruction was made only in 8 patients (50%). Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis correctly diagnosed CV in fourteen (87.5%). Fifteen patients (94%) underwent surgical intervention. All but one (n = 14, 93.4%) underwent laparotomy, and one patient (6.6%) underwent successful laparoscopic intervention. Right hemicolectomy was performed in all operated patients, and fourteen patients (93.4%) had primary anastomosis. Twelve patients (80%) had one or another form of morbidity. Seven patients (47%) and three patients (20%) had grade II and III (Clavien–Dindo Classification) complications, respectively, with a median hospital stay of 10 (range 1–49) days. One patient (6.7%) managed conservatively was deemed to be futile. There was no postoperative mortality. Conclusions: CV can present with non-specific symptoms, and a definite preoperative diagnosis is only possible with the aid of CT. Open resectional procedures with primary anastomosis are the most favoured approach in management, though laparoscopic access is also feasible in fit patients.

Management of a Voluminous Incisional Hernia – Case Report and Brief Review

Abstract Introduction: Massive ventral hernia repairs may lead to abdominal compartment syndrome, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and is caused by an acute rise in intra-abdominal pressure, frequently leading to multi-organ failure and possibly death. This report presents a case with a voluminous incisional hernia associated with intestine obstruction and the issues surrounding emergency surgical treatment. Case report: An overweight 67-year-old patient with a medical history of diabetes and multiple cardiovascular pathologies presented to the emergency department complaining of abdominal distension, pain, nausea, vomiting, and lack of intestinal transit for 48 hours. A clinical diagnosis of bowel obstruction was established, caused by a large ventral hernia. During surgery, a tension free abdominal wall reconstruction was performed with a peritoneal flap from the hernia sac and retromuscular Prolene synthetic mesh. A Redon-type drainage of the posterior rectus compartment and subcutis was applied for 48 hours. After the operation, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for monitoring. During the follow-up, continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, renal function, daily diuresis, lactic acid values, and intraabdominal pressure was performed. On the 9th postoperative day, the patient was released in good general health, stable from a cardiorespiratory point of view, with a clean, healing surgical wound. Conclusion: The repair of large ventral hernias is technically challenging. The management of giant incisional hernias is complex, requiring thoughtful preoperative evaluation with CT imaging and volumetry calculation, which can help establish the surgical strategy.

Do biomarkers have predictive value in the treatment modality of the patients diagnosed with bowel obstruction?

This study aimed to investigate the ability of the biomarkers to predict the surgery treatment and mortality in patients above 18 years of age who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of bowel obstruction from the emergency department. This is a 2-year retrospective study. The patients' demographic data, laboratory parameters on admission to emergency department, treatment modalities, and the length of hospital stay were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: conservative and surgical treatment. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the value of biomarkers in predicting mortality and the need for surgery. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22. A total of 179 patients were included in this study. Of these, 105 (58.7%) patients were treated conservative and 74 (41.3%) were treated operatively. The elevated procalcitonin (PCT) level, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio, and lactate-to-albumin ratio were significantly correlated with surgical treatment, length of hospital stay, and mortality. procalcitonin threshold value of 0.13 ng/mL was able to predict the need for surgical treatment, with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 70.3%. Procalcitonin threshold value of 0.65 ng/mL was able to predict the mortality rate of the patients, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 78.1%. Biomarkers, especially procalcitonin, may be useful in bowel obstruction treatment management and may predict mortality.

Modern methods for adhesive bowel obstruction diagnosis

Topicality.Adhesive intestinal obstruction is a common disease in abdominal surgery with a significant increase from year to year. During the last 20 years, the frequency of cases of adhesive intestinal obstruction (SCN) has increased by 2 times and has no tendency to decrease. In the UK, small bowel obstruction was an indication for 51% of all emergency laparotomies. Scott et al. reported seven emergency surgeries, accounting for 80% of all hospital admissions, morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in relation to general surgery in the United States. These seven operations included partial colectomy, small bowel resection, cholecystectomy, peptic ulcer surgery, adgeolysis, appendectomy, and laparotomy. Adhesive intestinal obstruction of the small intestine was the most frequent diagnosis in the behavior of four out of seven surgical interventions (partial colectomy, resection of the small intestine, adgeolysis and laparotomy). Postoperative adhesive processes are the main cause of small intestine obstruction, accounting for 60% of cases. Among all cases of intestinal obstruction, acute small intestine is 64.3–80%, while having a severe course and a worse prognosis. This causes a high mortality rate in this pathology. It ranges from 5.1% to 8.4%, occupying a leading place among all urgent diseases.The purpose of the studywas to evaluate various modern methods of diagnosing adhesive intestinal obstruction.Material and methods.In this study, the method of classical analysis of domestic and foreign literature was applied, based on current data on the diagnosis of adhesive intestinal obstruction.Results.Historically, there has been a certain algorithm for examining patients arriving with suspected adhesive intestinal obstruction, which includes: complaints, anamnesis of the disease and life, objective status, as well as additional diagnostic methods. Patients with OCD usually present a wide range of complaints, such as nausea, vomiting and periodic abdominal pain. Nausea and vomiting follow the appearance of pain and are an early sign of proximal adhesive OCN. However, clinical symptoms are only partially able to diagnose adhesive intestinal obstruction. Laboratory data are of little significance in the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, but they help to determine the presence and severity of metabolic disorders, homeostasis disorders, as well as to indicate possible starngulation. For the diagnosis of OCN, OBP survey radiography is routinely used. Computed tomography (CT) has a higher sensitivity and specificity compared to abdominal X-ray examination and is recommended by the Bologna Guidelines. Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) is increasingly used in the diagnosis of OCD. Ultrasound is a relatively simple inexpensive non-invasive imaging method that is devoid of radiation exposure, but depends on the operator's experience. To minimize the effects of ionizing radiation in children and pregnant women, magnetic resonance imaging is an effective alternative to computed tomography for intestinal obstruction.Conclusion.The problem of adhesive intestinal obstruction remains highly relevant, given the prevalence of the disease and high mortality rates. Currently, new promising methods for diagnosing this disease, including biomarkers and high-tech methods for visualizing the pathological process, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, are acquiring high importance. At the same time, one should not forget about the routine research methods – X-ray of the abdominal cavity and classical methods of examining the patient – collecting complaints, anamnesis and determining the objective status.

Timing of Gastrografin administration in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO): Does it matter?

BackgroundGastrografin challenge is increasingly used as a diagnostic tool to predict patients who may benefit from nonoperative management in adhesive small bowel obstruction. This study explores the optimal timing of Gastrografin in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction by comparing early versus late Gastrografin challenge. MethodsA retrospective chart review from January 2016 to January 2018 identified patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction who underwent Gastrografin challenge. A receiver operating characteristic curve, to predict a duration of stay less than 5 days, calculated a 12-hour limit which separated early and late groups. Nonoperative and operative patients were compared separately. Our primary outcome was duration of stay. Secondary outcomes included operative requirement, time to the operating room, complication rate, and 1-year mortality. In a separate analysis, multivariable logistic regression identified independent risk factors for 1-year mortality. ResultsOne hundred thirty-four patients were identified (58 early, 76 late). In nonoperative patients, the early group had a shorter duration of stay (3.2 days vs 5.4 days), fewer complications, and a lower complication and 1-year mortality rate (P < .05). In operative patients, the early group had a shorter preoperative duration of stay (1.8 days vs 3.9 days) (P < .05). On multivariable regression, congestive heart failure, any postoperative complication, and operative requirement were the best predictors of 1-year mortality (R2 = 0.321; P < .05). ConclusionGastrografin administration within 12 hours of adhesive small bowel obstruction diagnosis had favorable outcomes in terms of duration of stay, complications, and mortality in nonoperative patients. Moreover, in operative patients, preoperative duration of stay was shortened. Our findings suggest protocolizing early Gastrografin challenge may be an important principle in adhesive small bowel obstruction management.

Treatment difficulties during COVID 19 pandemic in a patient with giant renal tumor. A small town general hospital perspective

Introduction: We present an unusual case of papillary renal cell carcinoma, which is a rare subtype of kidney malignancy. Objective: The present case report emphasizes a voluminous left renal tumoral mass causing bowel obstruction and necessity of emergency surgical intervention. Presentation of case: A 74 year old patient with a history of multiple severe cardiovascular conditions, presented in the emergency room accusing abdominal distension and pain, nausea, vomiting and lack of intestinal transit for about 72 hours. Based on the symptomatology, physical examination and imagistic explorations a clinical diagnosis of bowel obstruction was arisen, caused by a voluminous tumor with compression of the large vessels and invasion of the left colon. Given the severity of the cardiovascular comorbidities and the complexity of the case, the possibility of patient’s transfer to a university hospital was arisen, which was not practicable due to the COVID 19 pandemic. During surgical intervention en-bloc resection of the left kidney and tumoral mass was practiced. Histopathologic examination identified the tumoral mass as type I papillary carcinoma of the left kidney. The postoperative evolution was unfavorable, due to the severe cardiovascular comorbidities, on maximal vasoactive support the patient remained hemodynamically unstable, showed progressive myocardial infarction with the persistence of arrhythmias and severely reduced ejection fraction which led to his unfortunate death. Conclusion: Careful patient selection is needed to ensure a favorable risk-benefit ratio. Also a thorough multidisciplinary evaluation of patient and the possible therapeutic options is necessary, in order to create an optimal and individualized treatment plan

Factors impacting length of stay and survival in patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies and malignant bowel obstruction

ObjectivesMalignant bowel obstruction in patients with gynecologic malignancies can impose a large symptomatic burden. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with shorter length of hospital stay...

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for small bowel obstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeAccurate diagnosis of small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains challenging. The evidence of the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound varies among studies, with reporting sensitivity ranging from 82 % to 100 % and specificity ranging from 54 % to 100 %. The aim of our study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the accuracy of ultrasound for diagnosing SBO. MethodThe PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched from database inception to March 2020. Randomized controlled trials, quasi randomized studies, and prospective or retrospective cohort studies that evaluated the diagnostic performance of ultrasound for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction in adult patients (age ≥ 16 years) were eligible. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The pooled sensitivities, specificities were analyzed using a bivariate random-effects model. (PROSPERO ID: CRD42020170010). ResultsFifteen studies, with most rating as a moderate risk of bias, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 92 % (95 % CI: 89%–95%) and 93 % (95 % CI: 85%–97%), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant differences in sensitivity when ultrasound was performed on different continents, in different settings, and under different reference standards. However, the specificity was significantly lower when ultrasound was performed in the North America, in the emergency department, and when computed tomography was used as the only reference standard. ConclusionsOverall, ultrasound is a highly sensitive and specific tool for the diagnosis of SBO. Using ultrasound to rule in patients with SBO should be used with caution, as variations in the specificity were observed in different study setting, operators from different continents and reference standards used.

Role of Multi Detector CT in Diagnosis of Small and Large Bowel Obstruction

Background: A prospective study of 50 patients presented in emergency department with features suggestive of intestinal obstruction which is a common cause for acute abdomen, Aim: To evaluate role of MDCT in diagnosis of bowel obstruction. Methods: 50 patients presented with symptoms and signs suggesting primary diagnosis of intestinal obstruction between July 2017 to June 2019, 24 patients were males and 26 females, with the mean of 46.5 years old. All of them underwent MDCT study on abdomen and pelvis with coronal and sagittal reformatted images to assess presence of bowel obstruction. Results: 40 patients have provisional diagnosis with MDCT as intestinal obstruction, 32 cases were taken for exploratory laparotomy and 8 patients were managed conservatively. 3132 patients approved to have intestinal obstruction while one case not approved with sensitivity and specificity 100% and 91.4 % respectively. The small bowel is involved in (2039) 51.28% of cases, whereas large bowel is involved in (1939) 48.71% of cases. In 8 patients, the sign of ischemia seen on MDCT scan and confirmed on exploration, so sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of bowel ischemia was 100%. Eight cases diagnosed with MDCT as closed loop, 7/8 approved intra -operatively, only one 6case not approved. so sensitivity and specificity of MDCT in diagnosis of closed loop was (100 % and 96.1 %) respectively. Conclusion: MDCT is highly sensitive and specific in determining the presence or absence of bowel obstruction.