Variability in the Management of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction in Children

Intraabdominal adhesions commonly form as a component of normal wound healing following abdominal operations, for both laparotomy and laparoscopy.1,2 Given their young surgical age, infants and children undergoing laparotomies are at particular risk for an adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) over their lifetime, with an estimated aggregate incidence of 4.2% following abdominal operations, which rises to 25 –30% for some disease-specific surgeries.3,4 For patients without signs of bowel ischemia, a trial of nonoperative management is warranted given that 70–80% of ASBOs resolve without surgical intervention.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Original article Source Type: research