The role of computed tomography with contrast and small bowel follow-through in management of small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: In a significant percentage of patients, radiologic evaluation other than plain abdominal films are required to confirm or exclude the presence of small bowel obstruction.

METHODS: Over a 1-year period, 55 patients had both computed tomography and small bowel follow-through studies. Patients were classified as having (1) paralytic ileus, (2) low-grade obstruction, (3) high-grade obstruction, or (4) complete mechanical obstruction. The gold standard for diagnosis was celiotomy in 42 patients and clinical follow-up in 13 patients.

RESULTS: Thirty-six out of 42 patients had proven intestinal obstruction at the time of celiotomy. Computed tomography identified 32 out of the 36 high-grade and complete mechanical obstructions. Computed tomography was superior to small bowel follow-through in identifying masses, malignancies, and features of strangulation. Small bowel follow-through correctly identified "insignificant obstructions" when contrast reached the cecum within 4 hours in 18 of 19 patients.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with equivocal findings of small bowel obstruction, computed tomography should be used initially and then small bowel follow-through if computed tomography is not diagnostic. Computed tomography was superior in this study for detecting the cause of the intestinal obstruction and presence of strangulation.