Water-Soluble Contrast Medium (Gastrografin) Value in Adhesive Small Intestine Obstruction (Asio): A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Patients with adhesive small intestine obstruction (ASIO) are difficult to evaluate and to manage and their treatment is still controversial. The diagnostic and therapeutic role of water-soluble contrast medium (Gastrografin) in ASIO is still debated. This study was designed to determine the therapeutic role of Gastrografin in patients with ASIO. METHODS: The study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled investigation. The primary end points were the evaluation of the operative rate reduction and shortening the hospital stay after the use of Gastrografin. A total of 76 patients were randomized into two groups: the control group received traditional treatment (TT), whereas the study group (GG) received in addition a Gastrografin meal and follow-through study immediately. Patients with Gastrografin in the colon within 36 hours were considered to be partially obstructed and submitted to nonoperative management. If after 36 hours, the Gastrografin had not entered the colon, the subjects were submitted to laparotomy. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in age, sex, intravenous administration of prokinetics, incidence and characteristics of the previous procedures in surgical history of the patients, previous episodes of ASIO and surgery for adhesiolysis, or duration of symptoms before admission. In the GG group obstruction resolved subsequently in 31 of 38 cases (81.5%) after a mean time of 6.4 hours. The remaining seven patients were submitted to surgery, and one of them needed bowel resection for strangulation. In the control group, 21 patients were not submitted to surgery (55%), whereas 17 showed persistent untreatable obstruction and required laparotomy: 2 of them underwent bowel resection for strangulation. The difference in the operative rate between the two treatment groups reached statistical significance (p = 0.013). The time from the hospital admission for obstruction to resolution of symptoms was significantly lower in the GG group (6.4 vs. 43 hours; p < 0.01). The length of hospital stay revealed a significant reduction in the GG group (4.7 vs. 7.8 days; p < 0.05). This reduction was more evident in the subset of patients who did not require surgery (3 vs. 5.1 days; p < 0.01). No GG-related complications or significant differences in major complications and the relapse rate were found (relapse rate, 34.2% after a mean time to relapse of 6.3 months in the GG group vs. 42.1% after 7.6 months in the TT; p = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Data showed that the use of Gastrografin in ASIO is safe and reduces the operative rate and the time to resolution of obstruction, as well as the hospital stay.     

Prospective evaluation of oral gastrografin in postoperative small bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND: Orally administered gastrografin has been used for early resolution of postoperative small bowel obstruction (POSBO) and to reduce the need for surgery in various studies. However the studies have reported conflicting results as patients with complete obstruction and equivocal diagnosis of bowel strangulation were also included. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of gastrografin in patients with partial adhesive small bowel obstruction. Patients with suspected strangulation, complete obstruction, obstructed hernia, bowel malignancy, and radiation enteritis were excluded. Sixty-two patients with partial adhesive small bowel obstruction were given an initial trial of conservative management of 48 h. Thirty-eight patients improved within 48 h and the other 24 were given 100 ml of undiluted gastrografin through the nasogastric tube. In 22 patients the contrast reached the colon within 24 h. In the remaining two patients the contrast failed to reach the colon and these underwent surgery. RESULTS: The use of gastrografin avoided surgical intervention in 91.3% (22 of 24) patients who failed conservative management of POSBO. Gastrografin also decreased the overall requirement for surgical management of POSBO from the reported rate of 25 to 30% to 3.2% (2 of 62). CONCLUSION: Use of gastrografin in patients with partial POSBO helps in resolution of symptoms and avoids the need for surgical management in the majority of patients.     

Randomized clinical study of Gastrografin administration in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND: Oral Gastrografin has been used to differentiate partial from complete small bowel obstruction (SBO). It may have a therapeutic effect and predict the need for early surgery in adhesive SBO. The aim of this study was to determine whether contrast examination in the management of SBO allows an early oral intake and reduces hospital stay. METHODS: Eighty-three patients admitted between February 2000 and November 2001 with 90 episodes of symptoms and signs suggestive of postoperative adhesive SBO were randomized into two groups, a control group and Gastrografin group. Patients in the control group were treated conservatively. If symptoms of strangulation developed or the obstruction did not resolve spontaneously after 4-5 days, a laparotomy was performed. Patients in the Gastrografin group received 100 ml Gastrografin. Those in whom the contrast medium reached the colon in 24 h were considered to have partial SBO, and were fed orally. If Gastrografin failed to reach the colon and the patient did not improve in the following 24 h a laparotomy was performed. RESULTS: Conservative treatment was successful in 77 episodes (85.6 per cent) and 13 (14.4 per cent) required operation. Among patients treated conservatively, hospital stay was shorter in the Gastrografin group (P < 0.001). All patients in whom contrast medium reached the colon tolerated an early oral diet. Gastrografin did not reduce the need for operation (P = 1.000). No patient died in either group. CONCLUSION: Oral Gastrografin helps in the management of patients with adhesive SBO and allows a shorter hospital stay.     

Value of Water-soluble Contrast (Meglumine Amidotrizoate) in the Diagnosis and Management of Small Bowel Obstruction

Introduction The object of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of a water-soluble contrast follow-through study for differentiating complete from incomplete small bowel obstruction (SBO) and for predicting the need for surgery. Methods This prospective study was conducted at Riyadh Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia and spanned 2 years. All adult patients admitted with SBO were included, except those with obstructed hernias, peritonitis, or postabdominal irradiation. The initial resuscitation meglumine amidotrizoate (Gastrografin) follow-though was performed and was considered positive for complete obstruction if the contrast failed to reach the colon as shown on the 24-hour film. Patients were operated on only if they developed signs of strangulation or failed to improve within 48 hours. Results Our study group consisted of 73 patients, 48 (65.7%) of whom were male. The mean age was 35.70 ± 12.65 years. In 60 (82.2%) patients, contrast reached the ascending colon within 24 hours, giving a definitive diagnosis of incomplete obstruction; among these 60 cases, 49 (81.7%) resolved on conservative management. The other 13 (17.8%) patients were diagnosed as having a complete obstruction; 4 (30.8%) of them were treated conservatively, and 9 (69.2%) underwent surgery. Therefore the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for meglumine amidotrizoate follow-through as an indicator for operative treatment of SBO were 45.0, 92.5, 81.7, and 69.2, respectively. The P value using Fisher’s exact test was 0.0006. Conclusions We can confidently diagnose complete and incomplete SBO and differentiate one from the other. This accurate diagnosis indicates a high chance of success with conservative management for incomplete obstruction but does not always correlate with the need for surgical intervention.     

The role of computed tomography with contrast and small bowel follow-through in management of small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: In a significant percentage of patients, radiologic evaluation other than plain abdominal films are required to confirm or exclude the presence of small bowel obstruction. METHODS: Over a 1-year period, 55 patients had both computed tomography and small bowel follow-through studies. Patients were classified as having (1) paralytic ileus, (2) low-grade obstruction, (3) high-grade obstruction, or (4) complete mechanical obstruction. The gold standard for diagnosis was celiotomy in 42 patients and clinical follow-up in 13 patients. RESULTS: Thirty-six out of 42 patients had proven intestinal obstruction at the time of celiotomy. Computed tomography identified 32 out of the 36 high-grade and complete mechanical obstructions. Computed tomography was superior to small bowel follow-through in identifying masses, malignancies, and features of strangulation. Small bowel follow-through correctly identified "insignificant obstructions" when contrast reached the cecum within 4 hours in 18 of 19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with equivocal findings of small bowel obstruction, computed tomography should be used initially and then small bowel follow-through if computed tomography is not diagnostic. Computed tomography was superior in this study for detecting the cause of the intestinal obstruction and presence of strangulation.     

水溶性造影剂在粘连性小肠梗阻治疗中的价值

【摘要】 目的 探讨水溶性造影剂(泛影葡胺)在粘连性小肠梗阻治疗中的价值。方法〓明确诊断为小肠梗阻的患者,不合并肠穿孔、腹膜炎及绞窄性肠梗阻等需要急诊手术的情况。采用前瞻性研究方法,将入组的57例患者分为2组:对照组与治疗组。对照组给予常规治疗,如禁食、胃肠减压、灌肠、静脉补液等;治疗组除常规保守治疗方法外,患者口服或均经胃肠减压管注入76%泛影葡胺60~100 mL并夹管1小时,观察两组非手术治疗的有效率、小肠梗阻缓解时间、住院时间以及并发症的发生情况。结果〓应用泛影葡胺的治疗组非手术治疗的有效率明显高于对照组(83.3% VS 55.6%),差异有统计学意义;非手术治疗有效的两组患者中,治疗组患者在肠鸣音恢复时间9.56±3.47 h VS 19.67±3.90 h)、肛门排气时间(11.24±3.15 h VS 22.6±4.14 h)、每日胃肠减压量(179.20±68.79 mL VS 323.33±91.31 mL)、住院时间(5.0±1.83 d VS 8.20±2.15 d)均明显小于对照组,各指标间的比较均有显著性差异。两组均未出现严重并发症。结论〓泛影葡胺治疗小肠梗阻疗效确切,值得推广应用。     

Prospective Evaluation of Oral Gastrografin® in the Management of Postoperative Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction

Oral Gastrografin®, a hyperosmolar water-soluble contrast medium, may have a therapeutic effect in adhesive small bowel obstruction. However, findings are still conflicting, as some authors did not find a therapeutic advantage. So, this prospective, randomized, and clinical trial study was designed to determine the value of Gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction. The primary end points were the evaluation of the operative rate reduction and shortening the hospital stay after the use of Gastrografin. A total of 84 patients were randomized into two groups: the control group received conventional treatment, whereas the study group received in addition of 100 mL Gastrografin meal. Patients were followed up within 4 days after admission, and clinical and radiological (if needed) improvements were evaluated. Although the results showed that Gastrografin can decrease the need for surgical management by 14.5 %, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups (P = 0.07). Nevertheless, the length of hospital stay revealed a significant reduction from 4.67 ± 1.18 days to 2.69 ± 1.02 days (P = 0.00). The use of Gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction is safe and reduces the length of hospital stay. As a result, the cost of hospital bed occupancy is reduced. Hence, if there was no indication of emergency surgery, administration of oral Gastrografin as a nonoperative treatment in adhesive small bowel obstruction is also recommended.Keyword: Abdominal surgery, Adhesion, Small bowel obstruction, Gastrografin®, Hospital stay     

Meta-analysis of oral water-soluble contrast agent in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND: Adhesions are the leading cause of small bowel obstruction. Identification of patients who require surgery is difficult. This review analyses the role of Gastrografin as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction. METHODS: A systematic search of Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed to identify studies of the use of Gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction. Studies that addressed the diagnostic role of water-soluble contrast agent were appraised, and data presented as sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios. Results were pooled and a summary receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed. A meta-analysis of the data from six therapeutic studies was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel test and both fixed- and random-effect models. RESULTS: The appearance of water-soluble contrast agent in the colon on an abdominal radiograph within 24 h of its administration predicted resolution of obstruction with a pooled sensitivity of 97 per cent and specificity of 96 per cent. The area under the summary ROC curve was 0.98. Water-soluble contrast agent did not reduce the need for surgical intervention (odds ratio 0.81, P = 0.300), but it did reduce the length of hospital stay for patients who did not require surgery compared with placebo (weighted mean difference--1.84 days; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Published data strongly support the use of water-soluble contrast medium as a predictive test for non-operative resolution of adhesive small bowel obstruction. Although Gastrografin does not reduce the need for operation, it appears to shorten the hospital stay for those who do not require surgery.     

Adhesive small bowel adhesions obstruction: Evolutions in diagnosis,management and prevention

Intra-abdominal adhesions following abdominal surgery represent a major unsolved problem. They are the first cause of small bowel obstruction. Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation, water-soluble contrast followthrough and computed tomography scan. For patients presenting no signs of strangulation, peritonitis or severe intestinal impairment there is good evidence to support non-operative management. Open surgery is the preferred method for the surgical treatment of adhesive small bowel obstruction, in case of suspected strangulation or after failed conservative management, but laparoscopy is gaining widespread acceptance especially in selected group of patients. "Good" surgical technique and anti-adhesive barriers are the main current concepts of adhesion prevention. We discuss current knowledge in modern diagnosis and evolving strategies for management and prevention that are leading to stratified care for patients.     

Upper gastrointestinal contrast study in the management of small bowel obstruction--a prospective randomised study.

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether contrast radiography helps to resolve small bowel obstruction. DESIGN: Prospective randomised trial. SETTING: University hospital, Norway. SUBJECTS: 98 consecutive patients with symptoms of small bowel obstruction and a plain abdominal radiograph that confirmed the diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomly allocated to receive a mixture of barium and sodium diatrizoate (Gastrografin) (n = 48) or not (n = 50). Both groups were followed up clinically and by repeated abdominal films. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Non-operative resolution of small bowel obstruction; number of patients with strangulated bowel; bowel resections; mortality; complications; hospital stay; and time from admission to operation. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the groups in the incidence of non-operative resolution (31/48 in contrast group, 35/50 in control group, OR: 0.89), strangulation obstruction (1/48 in contrast group, 4/50 in control group, OR: 0.24), bowel resection (3/48 in contrast group, 4/50 in control group, OR: 0.76), complications (8/48 in contrast group, 5/50 in control group, OR: 1.80), mortality (3/48 in contrast group, 1/50 in control group, OR: 3.26), and hospital stay (0-7 days: 34/48 in contrast group, 38/50 in control group, p = 0.95). The contrast group had a shorter interval between admission and operation than the control group (0-24 hours: 12/48 in contrast group, 3/50 in control group, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The contrast examination did not contribute to the resolution of small bowel obstruction.     

小肠减压管联合泛影葡胺在术后早期炎性肠梗阻治疗中的作用

目的评价经鼻置入小肠减压管行小肠减压、并注入泛影葡胺行小肠造影在术后早期炎性肠梗阻治疗中的作用。方法首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院普通外科于2011年4月至2012年7月间有12例腹部手术患者术后早期出现炎性肠梗阻,经鼻胃管减压等常规保守治疗2周后,肠梗阻症状改善不明显,遂经鼻置人小肠减压管行小肠减压,同时经减压管注入泛影葡胺行小肠造影,了解小肠蠕动情况及肠道梗阻情况,并利用泛影葡胺促进肠蠕动的治疗作用,观察其治疗效果。结果在置入小肠减压管后,12例患者腹胀症状均有所缓解,其中11例在置入小肠减压管后3周内腹部坚韧感消失,恢复正常排气并逐渐开始经口进食;1例患者在50d后仍未排气,再次行手术治疗,术后3d患者恢复自主排气。随访6个月,全组患者无一例复发肠梗阻。结论对于症状较重、病程较长并经常规处理无效的术后早期炎性肠梗阻患者,应用小肠减压管行小肠减压并注入泛影葡胺行小肠造影的方法安全有效,能够避免二次手术。     

The use of water-soluble contrast in evaluating clinically equivocal small bowel obstruction

This study seeks to determine whether a 6-hour abdominal radiograph after oral Gastrografin is a reliable indicator for nonoperative treatment in patients with a clinically equivocal small bowel obstruction. We collected retrospective data from medical records. Patients who received a Gastrografin transit time (GGTT) study between January 1995 and September 1998 were included in the study. Patients who did not appear to be obvious operative candidates, but had signs of intestinal obstruction, underwent a GGTT study. Serial plain abdominal radiographs were taken. If the contrast was in the colon within 6 hours, then the result was negative. A total of 418 GGTT studies were reviewed. Contrast reached the colon within 6 hours in 283 (68%) patients, and 247 (88%) of these patients were managed nonoperatively. The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of Gastrografin reaching the colon within 6 hours were 48, 87, 64, and 78, respectively. False negatives included high-grade partial obstructions that ultimately required surgery. Recent operation preceded the GGTT in 128 (31%) cases. Of these 128 patients, only 17 (14%) received an operation. Although the decision to operate or not should never be based on a GGTT study alone, GGTT studies are of significant help in the clinical management of patients suspected to have a small bowel obstruction. GGTT allows for the judicious selection of the appropriate patient for nonoperative management. GGTT studies are cost effective, safe, and clinically useful when attempting to treat patients conservatively.     

腹部手术后早期炎性肠梗阻的处理

目的腹部手术后早期发生的肠梗阻原因较复杂,处理亦较困难,尤其是炎性肠梗阻,既有麻痹性因素,亦有机械性因素,使外科医师的医疗决策难以取舍,如是否需要手术、手术的时机、以及手术可能造成的并发症等均值得探讨。我科自1987年至1996年12月共收治了重型术后炎性肠梗阻48例,40例(83.3%)经非手术治疗痊愈;7例(14.6%)于症状消退后择期手术治疗并存症后治愈,1例2.1%死亡,临床非手术治疗时间为9～58天,平均27.6±10天,取得较满意的结果,为这种类型的肠梗阻治疗提供了一些经验。     

Small bowel obstruction: computer-assisted prediction of strangulation at presentation

A multivariate computer analysis has been performed on the presenting data of patients with simple small bowel obstruction that settled with conservative treatment (n = 120) and of patients with viable strangulation small bowel obstruction (n = 38) and non-viable strangulation small bowel obstruction (n = 39) found at operation. Initially only 66 per cent of patients with viable strangulation and 46 per cent of those with non-viable strangulation had been treated by immediate surgery after resuscitation. The remainder had been treated conservatively for a median of 3.8 and 2.2 days respectively before undergoing surgery. The computer predicted on the basis of presenting symptoms and signs that 82 per cent of patients with viable strangulation and 97 per cent of those with non-viable strangulation had or would develop strangulation and should have undergone immediate surgery. We advocate that the computer can assist in the management of patients with small bowel obstruction.     

Modern diagnostic strategy in ileus

During the last 4 years (11/93-11/97) 330 patients with acute bowel obstruction were treated and analysed retrospectively. 80% of the obstructions (n = 265) were in the small bowel and 20% (n = 65) in the large bowel localized. Adhesions were the main cause in 65.7% (n = 174) of all small bowel obstructions, and one third (35.1%, n = 61) of these patients were treated conservatively. In the large bowel, however, 37% were caused by obstructing colon carcinoma mainly localized in the rectosigmoid region. Mechanical bowel obstruction remains to be one of the most common emergencies in general surgery. A successful treatment is based on a rapid and correct diagnosis followed by an immediate surgical intervention if indicated. There are no reliable clinical, laboratory or radiological signs of bowel strangulation available. Preoperative diagnostic examinations should confirm bowel obstruction, determine its localization and origin and exclude other pathologies. Furthermore, it should help in selecting a patient subgroup with small bowel obstruction due to adhesions, which might be treated conservatively. Preoperative diagnostic procedures include case history, clinical examination, basic laboratory tests and a plain abdominal x-ray. In patients with suspected small bowel obstruction due to adhesions without any signs of strangulation a contrast medium follow-through study may be indicated. If the contrast medium fails to pass into the colon within 5 hours, a surgical exploration is recommended. In large bowel obstruction a contrast medium enema, a computed tomography or a colonoscopy are valuable diagnostic tools.     

Early operation or conservative management of patients with small bowel obstruction?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome after initial non-operative treatment in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Norway. PATIENTS: One hundred and fifty-four patients with 166 episodes of SBO admitted during the period (1994-1995). Patients younger than 10 years as well as patients with large bowel obstruction, paralytic ileus, incarcerated hernia or SBO caused by cancer were excluded from the study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients with signs of strangulation were operated on early. The rest were given a trial of conservative treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Need of operative treatment. Incidence of bowel strangulation, complications and death. RESULTS: There were 166 cases of SBO. Twenty patients were operated on early among whom bowel was strangulated in 9. Among the 146 patients initially treated conservatively 93 (64%) settled without operation, 9 (6%) had strangulated bowel and 3 (2%) died. Of the 91 patients with partial obstruction but no sign of strangulation, 72 (79%) resolved on conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with partial obstruction with no sign of strangulation should initially be treated conservatively. When complete obstruction is present, it may settle on conservative management, but the use of supplementary diagnostic tools might be desirable to find the patients who will need early operative treatment.     

The value of water-soluble contrast radiology in the management of acute small bowel obstruction.

A series of 127 consecutive patients with symptoms and signs and radiological features suggestive of acute small bowel obstruction underwent water-soluble contrast small bowel follow-through examination. A dose of 100 ml of Gastrograffin in adults, or 20-50 ml in children, was injected via a nasogastric tube and supine plain abdominal radiographs were taken at 30 min and 4 h after administration. If contrast passed to the colon a non-operative course was followed. If there was a clear cut-off in contrast level in the small bowel or if contrast failed to pass into the large bowel by 4 h, patients underwent laparotomy. Based on these radiological findings 15 patients (11.8%) underwent surgery and all had established small bowel obstruction at laparotomy. The remaining 112 patients were successfully managed conservatively. Water-soluble contrast radiology is safe, easy to use and to interpret, and is a major benefit in differentiating mechanical from other causes of small bowel obstruction. Our experience indicates that this underused technique is of significant value in identifying those patients who require urgent surgery.     

THE SAFETY AND DURATION OF NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENT FOR ADHESIVE SMALL BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to adhesions is often initially treated non-operatively but the safety and duration of non-operative treatment is controversial. The aims of this study were to assess the safety of non-operative treatment and determine the optimal duration of non-operative treatment in adhesive SBO. A retrospective analysis of patients admitted with a diagnosis of adhesive SBO following an initial period of non-operative treatment was performed. Patients whose condition resolved with non-operative treatment were compared with patients who required surgical intervention after an initial period of non-operative treatment. There were 123 admissions having an initial period of non-operative treatment. The SBO resolved in 85, the remaining 38 required surgical intervention. Complete resolution occurred within 48 h in 75 (88%) cases, the remaining 10 had resolved by 72 h. Thirty-one of 38 patients required surgical intervention for SBO more than 48 h duration after admission. The difference between cases resolving within 48 h and those requiring surgery after 48 h was significant (x²= 113, P < 0.001). Three (2.4%) patients, initially treated non-operatively, had small bowel strangulation. All three were operated on within 24 h of admission when changes in clinical findings suggested small bowel strangulation may be present. There were no deaths in the group having an initial period of non-operative treatment. In the absence of any signs of strangulation, patients with an adhesive SBO can be managed safely with non-operative treatment. Most cases of adhesive SBO that will resolve, do so within 48 h of admission. In the absence of any clinical or radiological evidence of resolution within 48 h, non-operative treatment should be abandoned in favour of surgical intervention.     

Randomized controlled trial of Gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND: Several previous studies have shown that Gastrografin can be utilized to triage patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) to an operative or a non-operative course. Previous studies assessing the therapeutic effect of Gastrografin have been confounded by post-administration radiology alerting the physician to the treatment group of the patient. Therefore the aim of the present paper was to test the hypothesis that Gastrografin hastens the non-operative resolution of (ASBO). METHODS: Patients, diagnosed with ASBO on clinical and radiological grounds, were randomized to receive Gastrografin or placebo in a double-blinded fashion. Patients did not undergo further radiological investigation. If the patient required subsequent radiological intervention or surgical intervention they were excluded from the study. End-points were passage of time to resolution of ASBO (flatus and bowel motion), length of hospital stay and complications. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with ASBO were randomized to receive either Gastrografin or placebo. Two patients were excluded due to protocol violations. Four patients in each group required surgery. Eighteen of the remaining patients received Gastrografin and 17 received placebo. Patients who received Gastrografin had complete resolution of their ASBO significantly earlier than placebo patients (12 vs 21 h, P = 0.009) and this translated into a median of a 1-day saving in time in hospital (3 vs 4 days, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrografin accelerates resolution of ASBO by a specific therapeutic effect.     

Conservative Management of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstructions in Patients Previously Operated on for Primary Colorectal Cancer

This study aimed to determine the incidence of adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) after primary colorectal cancer surgery and the outcomes of conservative management using gastrointestinal tubes in such cases. Between October 2000 and December 2005, 2,586 primary colorectal cancer patients underwent consecutive operations and were followed up completely for a median of 38 months. During the follow-up periods, 119 patients with 130 consecutive cases of adhesive SBO underwent conservative management using nasogastric tubes and long intestinal tubes. The overall adhesive SBO rate was 5.0% in 38 months of follow-up, and the observed incidence rate was 0.0013 per patient-month. Of the 130 cases, 104 cases (80%) were successfully treated by conservative management, and the symptoms of SBO were resolved by the sixth day (range 1 to 22). Twenty-six cases (20%) underwent surgery because of lack of clinical improvement (17) or signs of strangulation (9). The high success rate indicates that initial conservative management with intestinal decompression using gastrointestinal tubes is recommended for patients with adhesive SBO after primary colorectal cancer surgery.