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Small Bowel Obstruction in the Elderly

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Principles and Practice of Geriatric Surgery

Abstract

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common surgical entity that can occur at any age. Although the general principles of diagnosis and treatment of SBO are similar across age groups, there are shifts in the incidence and etiology with age and important treatment considerations in the elderly population. The classic dilemmas associated with SBO management are true for the elderly and include (1) differentiating strangulated from nonstrangulated SBO; (2) differentiating ileus from SBO; and (3) determining optimal duration of conservative treatment for partial SBO. Resolution of these dilemmas is especially pertinent for the elderly because the risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality from an unnecessary laparotomy are greatest in the elderly.

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Authors
  1. J. Chris Eagon
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Ronnie A. Rosenthal MD (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service) (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service)

  2. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, 06516, CT, USA

    Ronnie A. Rosenthal MD (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service) (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service)

  3. Department of Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, 10461, NY, USA

    Michael E. Zenilman MD (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery) (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery)

  4. Jack D. Weiler Hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, 10461, NY, USA

    Michael E. Zenilman MD (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery) (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery)

  5. Wyoming Valley Surgical Associates, Kingston, 18704, PA, USA

    Mark R. Katlic M.D. (Chief of Thoracic Surgery) (Chief of Thoracic Surgery)

  6. Wyoming Valley Healthcare System, Wilkes-Barre, 18702, PA, USA

    Mark R. Katlic M.D. (Chief of Thoracic Surgery) (Chief of Thoracic Surgery)

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Eagon, J.C. (2001). Small Bowel Obstruction in the Elderly. In: Rosenthal, R.A., Zenilman, M.E., Katlic, M.R. (eds) Principles and Practice of Geriatric Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3432-4_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3432-4_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-3434-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3432-4

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