The problem of small bowel obstruction

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study shows how combination oral therapy can help resolve small bowel obstruction.
Abdominal surgery may leave a patient with adhesions that cause an obstruction of the small bowel. The problem is painful and leads to vomiting and dehydration. Often, further surgery is needed. Researchers in Taiwan now report on a new approach which can overcome the problem.

They assigned patients with small bowel obstruction to either standard care or to standard care plus oral therapy consisting of a laxative, a digestant and a defoaming agent. Ninety one per cent of those on oral therapy had a successful outcome without further surgery, compared to 76 per cent in the control group. They also had shorter stays in hospital. The findings have important implications for the way small bowel obstruction is handled.

Source
Canadian Medical Association Journal 7th November 2005

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