THE PATTERN OF ACUTE INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

BACKGROUND: Intestinal obstruction is a surgical emergency that causes confusion both in the diagnosis and the management. It is related byimportant disease and mortality. The goal of this study was to classify the etiology, to analyse the methods of performance of acute duodenalobstruction in different age groups, various therapeutic modalities of treatment, to accomplish operative management, anticipate the post-operativecomplications and outcomes of patients with acute intestinal obstruction.MATERIAL& METHODS: 82 patients of all age groups (except infants) presenting with acute intestinal obstruction were studied between June2017 and December 2018 in a multispeciality hospital in Eastern India. Patients with history of subacute intestinal obstruction and paralytic ileuswere excluded from this study.RESULTS: Males were found to be affected much more than females. Pain abdomen was the most common symptom found in 94% cases followedby distension and vomiting in 86.6% and 68.3% cases respectively. Most common etiology of intestinal obstruction was due to adhesion and bands(40.3%) followed by obstructed hernia (22%) and malignancy (17%). The most common procedure done in intestinal obstruction in present studywas release of adhesions and bands (37.8%) followed by resection and anastomosis (26.8%).CONCLUSION: Bowel obstruction continues to be one of the most common abdominal problems faced by general surgeons. Success in thetreatment of intestinal obstruction depends largely upon early diagnosis, skilful management and treating the pathological effects of the obstructionjust as much as the cause itself.