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Clinical factors associated with success in applying laparoscopy in the management of small bowel obstruction at a tertiary care center

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Abstract

Background

Minimally invasive techniques have become standard approaches for many common surgical problems. However, the routine use of laparoscopy in the management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) has yet to be fully standardized. The objective of this study was to determine clinical factors associated with success of laparoscopy in managing SBO.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted by identifying all patients admitted to a large tertiary center with a diagnosis of SBO from 2014 to 2016. The operative cases were stratified by surgical approach: laparoscopy, laparoscopy converted to open, or laparotomy. Univariable analysis compared patient demographics and comorbidities between the laparoscopic and laparoscopic converted to open group. The primary outcome was successful laparoscopic procedure in the management of SBO, defined as resolution of SBO, and no conversion from laparoscopic to open procedures. Student’s t test or Pearson’s χ2 test were used to assess associations between factors and primary outcome.

Results

A total of 227 adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of SBO received operative intervention. There were 40 successful laparoscopic cases (52.6%) and 36 failed laparoscopic cases (47.4%). With the exception of an association between success of laparoscopy and BMI, the results demonstrated no other demographic or clinical differences among the successful versus failed laparoscopic groups.

Conclusions

Laparoscopy is effective in treating SBOs due to various etiologies including single band or multiple adhesions, hernias, or masses. Other than BMI, there was no single predictor of success or failure with laparoscopy. Therefore, we conclude that perhaps all patients requiring operative treatment for SBO deserve consideration for a diagnostic laparoscopy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, USA

    Catherine S. Denkler, Ashley Rodgers, Erica L. Emery, Devon T. Collins, Chang Liu, Tracy Fennessy & Jonathan M. Dort

  2. Department of Community and Global Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Devon T. Collins

Authors
  1. Catherine S. Denkler
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  2. Ashley Rodgers
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  3. Erica L. Emery
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  4. Devon T. Collins
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  5. Chang Liu
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  6. Tracy Fennessy
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  7. Jonathan M. Dort
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Correspondence to Jonathan M. Dort.

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Disclosures

Catherine Denkler, Ashley Rodgers, Erica L. Emery, Devon T. Collins, Chang Liu, Tracy Fennessy, and Jonathan Dort have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Denkler, C.S., Rodgers, A., Emery, E.L. et al. Clinical factors associated with success in applying laparoscopy in the management of small bowel obstruction at a tertiary care center. Surg Endosc 34, 3021–3026 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-07098-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-07098-x

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