Clinical Effect of Water-Soluble Contrast Agents for Small Bowel Obstruction in the Virgin Abdomen

Abstract

Background: Several studies have investigated the diagnostic and therapeutic role of water-soluble contrast agents (WSCAs) in adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO). However, the clinical effect of WSCA for SBO without previous intraabdominal operation (i.e., virgin abdomen, VA) is unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical effect of WSCA for SBO in the VA.

Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2015, 838 consecutive patients with SBO were initially managed with WSCA and were included in the study. Abdominal X-rays were taken 5 h after administration of 100 ml WSCA and classified into complete/incomplete obstruction groups. The medical records of the patients with SBO were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups of patients with VA or non-VA.

Results: A total of 44 and 794 VA and non-VA patients were identified, respectively. Six VA patients (13%) and 121 non-VA patients (15%) were classified with complete obstruction (p = 1.000) and subjected to operative exploration on the same day. There were no significant differences in the duration of nasogastric tube decompression (2.2 versus 2.5 days, p = 0.400) and intervals until the initiation of oral intake (2.4 versus 2.6 days, p = 0.553) between the VA and non-VA groups. The overall operative rate was 16% in the VA and 17% in the non-VA groups (p = 1.000). Compared with non-VA, VA was associated with shorter hospital stays (9.6 versus 11.3 days, p = 0.006).

Conclusions: WSCA for SBO in the VA is as effective as in non-VA patients in terms of a therapeutic strategy.