Study of clinical spectrum and management of acute intestinal obstruction

Background: Acute intestinal obstruction is one of the major surgical emergencies. Intestinal obstruction is defined as partial or complete interference with forward flow of small or large intestinal contents. Intestinal obstruction of either small or large bowel continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Study aims to find the aetiology, diagnosis and management of acute intestinal obstruction.Methods: A total of 135 patients of acute intestinal obstruction was studied from November 2013 to October 2015 in government medical college, Nagpur. Study was done in patients in OPD of this tertiary centre. Inclusion criteria being patients coming to the hospital with features suggestive and further confirmed of acute intestinal obstruction. Patients included were in, age group of 18 years to 80 years giving written informed consent. Patient of pseudo obstruction were excluded from the study.Results: A total of 135 patients, presented with acute intestinal obstruction during the period of the study. Mean patient age was 45.87 years with peak incidence in those aged 21-30years. The foremost signs and symptoms were constipation (85.93%) and abdominal pain (91.11%). Adhesions and bands (61.9%) was the leading causes of intestinal obstruction.Conclusions: Present study concluded that small bowel obstruction is more common than large bowel obstruction. Abdominal pain, constipation and distension are the most common symptoms, while increased bowel sounds, tachycardia and tenderness is most common sign. Post-operative adhesion in small bowel and malignancy in large bowel is major cause of acute intestinal obstruction.