Compliance on the use of water-soluble contrast agent in adhesional small bowel obstruction

Small bowel obstruction is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to map outcomes of patients admitted with adhesional small bowel obstruction (ASBO ) with a view evaluating the effectiveness of water-soluble contrast agents (WSCA). A retrospective review of all emergency admissions coded for operative and non-operative treatment of small bowel obstruction between January 2018 and June 2020. Electronic patient records were utilized to confirm cases of ASBO. Patient demographics, hospital administrative data, treatment and surgery-related data are collected. A total of 110 patients were admitted with ASBO initiated with conservative management. Median time to computed tomography (CT) scan was 12 h (Range: 3–115 h). Oral contrast was administered in only 11%; of these, 58% (7/12) resolved spontaneously compared to 52% (51/98) in those without contrast. About 43% (47/110) of all patients necessitated surgical intervention. Median time from admission to surgery was 43.5 h (Range: 10– 288 h). There were one 30-day re-admissions in patients surgically managed compared to two in those conservatively managed. Early CT scan facilitates initiation of non-operative management in stable patients with ASBO. In this series, the scant use of WSCA despite international guidelines did not compromise patient outcomes or length of stay.