Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: Predictive Factors of Lack of Response in Conservative Management with Gastrografin.

Background: Gastrografin represents a useful tool in the diagnosis and management of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). The aim of this study is to identify variables with negative influence in nonoperative management with gastrografin.

Methods: From August 2008 to March 2013, 223 consecutive patients with 235 episodes of ASBO were included and received gastrografin. A protocol for prospective data collection was developed. In order to explore factors related to the failure of nonoperative treatment, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.

Results: One hundred and ninety eight episodes responded to nonoperative treatment (84.2% of success) and 33 patients (15.8%) required surgical intervention. Only 3 patients of the gastrografin cohort with contrast in colon, required surgery. Predictive factors of failure of nonoperative management with gastrografin were patients aged above 65 (p = 0.01; OR 1.791, 95% CI 1.41-2.19), with a history of 2 or more previous laparotomies (p = 0.03; OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.19-3.71), and who had undergone previous abdominal surgery due to ASBO (p = 0.002; OR 1.381, 95% CI 1.10-1.79).

Conclusion: Patient age, the number of previous laparotomies, and the fact that previous abdominal surgery was conducted due to ASBO are indicative of unsuccessful management with gastrografin.