01.02.2016 | Original Article | Ausgabe 1/2016
Small bowel emergencies: two surgical centers’ experience and literature review
- Zeitschrift:
- European Surgery > Ausgabe 1/2016
Summary
Background
Small bowel surgical emergencies are potentially life-threatening conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of small bowel surgical emergencies to identify proper options for their management.
Methods
We retrospectively investigated 54 consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for small bowel disease. All clinical, surgical, and pathological data were collected from clinical records and referrals.
Results
Intraperitoneal adhesions were the main cause of small bowel obstruction, followed by abdominal wall defects (primitive and incisional hernias), phytobezoars, internal hernias, and neoplasias. The most frequent surgical procedure performed was adhesiolisis, followed by small bowel resections and correction of abdominal wall defects.
Conclusions
In-depth knowledge of the diseases which cause small intestine emergencies is crucial for emergency surgeons, given the absence of specific clinical, laboratory or radiological features, that makes the diagnosis and the decision to perform surgery challenging.