Laparoscopic Approach to Acute Small Bowel Obstruction: Review of 1061 Cases

Background: Acute small bowel obstruction has previously been considered a relative contraindication for laparoscopic management. As experience with laparoscopy grows, more surgeons are attempting laparoscopic management for this indication. The purpose of this study is to define the outcome of laparoscopy for acute small bowel obstruction through an analysis of published cases.

Methods: A literature search of the Medline database was performed using the key words laparoscopy and bowel obstruction. Further articles were identified from the reference lists of retrieved literature. Only English language studies were reviewed. We excluded studies that included patients with chronic abdominal pain, chronic recurrent small bowel obstruction, or gastric or colonic obstruction, when the data specific to acute small bowel obstruction could not be extracted. Data was analyzed based on an intention to treat.

Results: Nineteen studies from between 1994 and 2005 were identified. Laparoscopy was attempted in 1061 patients with acute small bowel obstruction. The most common etiologies of obstruction included adhesions (83.2%), abdominal wall hernia (3.1%), malignancy (2.9%), internal hernia (1.9%), and bezoars (0.8%). Laparoscopic treatment was possible in 705 cases with a conversion rate to open surgery of 33.5%. Causes of conversion were dense adhesions (27.7%), the need for bowel resection (23.1%), unidentified etiology (13.0%), iatrogenic injury (10.2%), malignancy (7.4%), inadequate visualization (4.2%), hernia (3.2%), and other causes (11.1%). Morbidity was 15.5% (152/981) and mortality was 1.5% (16/1046). There were 45 reported recognized intraoperative enterotomies (6.5%), but less than half resulted in conversion. There were, however, nine missed perforations, including one trocar injury, often resulting in significant morbidity. Early recurrence (defined as recurrence within 30 days of surgery) occurred in 2.1% (22/1046).

Conclusion: Laparoscopy is an effective procedure for the treatment of acute small bowel obstruction with acceptable risk of morbidity and early recurrence.