Nakamura T, et al. – Authors aim at determining the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of small–bowel obstruction. Patients with postoperative small–bowel obstruction can undergo laparoscopic surgery safely. It seems an effective treatment with a low rate of recurrent bowel obstruction.

Methods

• 121 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for small-bowel obstruction were included.

Results

• As per documentation, previous operations were open surgery in 107 patients and laparoscopic surgery in 14.
• Univariate analysis indicated 4 risk factors which were related to conversion to open surgery: radiotherapy (P=0.0002), previous episode of intestinal obstruction (P=0.0064), bleeding volume of ≥50 mL (P=0.0059), and the presence or absence of previous bowel resection (P=0.0269).
• Multivariate analysis suggested only radiotherapy as an independent risk factor for conversion to open surgery (odds ratio, 5.5141; P=0.0091).