Abstract

Backgroundandobjectives: Bowel obstruction remains one of the most common intra-abdominal problemsfaced by general surgeons in their practice, whether caused by hernia, neoplasm,adhesions or related to biochemical disturbances. Intestinal obstruction of either thesmall or large bowel continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Toidentify and analyse the clinical presentation, management and outcome of patientswithacutemechanical,obstructionalongwiththeetiologyofobstruction,theincidence and causes of bowel ischaemia, necrosis and perforation. The objectives areto studythe:
*variousmodesofpresentation,variouscauses,importanceofearlyrecognition, diagnosis and management.
*Influenceofvariousfactorslikeage,sex,dietandsocio-economicstatusinthepathogenesis of acuteintestinal obstruction.
*Morbidityand mortalityrates in acute intestinal obstruction.
Methods: Thematerialsfortheclinicalstudyofintestinalobstructionwerecollectedfromcasesadmittedtovarioussurgicalwards.Fiftycasesofintestinalobstructionhavebeenstudied. Patients belonged to the age groups ranging from 12 years to 85years,paediatricagegroupisexcludedfromthisstudy.Thecriteriaforselectionofcaseswasbasedonclinicalhistory,physicalfindings,radiologicalandhaematologicalinvestigations.
Conclusion: Acute intestinal obstruction remains an important surgical emergency in the Field ofsurgery. Success in the treatment of acute intestinal obstruction depends largely uponearlydiagnosis,skillfulmanagementandtreatingthepathologicaleffectsoftheobstructionjustasmuchasthecauseitself.ErectabdomenX-rayisvaluableinvestigation in the diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction. Postoperative adhesionsare the common cause of intestinal obstruction. Clinical radiological and operativefindingsputtogethercandiagnosetheintestinalobstruction.Mortalityisstillsignificantlyhigh in acuteintestinal obstruction