EP-415 The use of gastrografin in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction. (9th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vijayakumar, Y; Kim, S; Kumaran, N; Habib, H; Malik, K
• Is Part Of: British journal of surgery. Volume 109(2022)Supplement 5
• Publication Date: 2022-08-09
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znac245.103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Adhesive small bowel obstruction (aSBO) is a common surgical emergency causing high morbidity and even some mortality. The adhesions causing such small bowel obstructions (SBO) are typically the footprints of previous abdominal surgeries. The National Audit of Small bowel Obstruction (NASBO) recommended that in patients not needing emergency surgery for aSBO, gastrografin should be embedded in clinical management. An audit was undertaken to see our adherence to best practice in the management of aSBO. Methods: Data of all patients who were admitted with SBO between April and October 2020 were obtained. This list was filtered carefully to extract patients who had aSBO. Data was collected on signs of intestinal ischaemia, administration of gastrografin and progression, need for surgery and length of stay. Results: 26 patients were admitted with aSBO in the above period. Half of all patients needed an emergency operation. Only 30% (8) received gastrografin. Conservative management was successful in 62% (5/8) of patients who received gastrografin. 38% (3/8) needed surgery as they either had signs of intestinal ischaemia or gastrografin failed to pass through. More than half of all patients (55%) who did not receive gastrografin (10/18) required surgery. The average length of stay was significantly higher in patients who did not receive gastrografin. Conclusion: From the limited data it is evident that the use of gastrografin in patients with aSBO reduces the duration of stay and need for surgery. We have now developed and implemented a local protocol for managing such patients and we aim to re-audit in 6 months.