Search JIM Advanced Search

Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2008, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (10): 1010-1016.doi: 10.3736/jcim20081005

• Original Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Etiological factors and mortality of acute intestinal obstruction:a review of 705 cases

Xin-zu Chen1, Tao Wei1, Kun Jiang2, Kun Yang1, Bo Zhang1, Zhi-xin Chen1, Jia-ping Chen1, Jian-kun Hu1()   

  1. 1. Department of General Surgery, Multi-disciplinary Treatment Team of Gastrointestinal Tumors, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
    2. Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
  • Received:2008-06-02 Online:2008-10-20 Published:2008-10-15

Objective:

To figure out the etiological factors and overall mortality of the patients with acute intestinal obstruction, and to explore the rational period of conservative therapy before operation.


Methods:

Medical records of all the patients with acute intestinal obstruction admitted to West China Hospital from 1995 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. The etiology of the obstruction was categorized, and the correlation of mortality and time interval between conservative therapy and operation was analyzed.


Results:

There were 705 patients with acute intestinal obstruction included. There were 71.1% of the obstruction lesions located on the small bowel, and 82.6% of the patients experienced simple obstruction. The most frequent cause was adhesions (62.0%), and next was neoplasms (23.7%). There were 57.6% of the patients underwent the surgical treatment. The overall mortality rate was 1.6%, and the mortality rates in conservative therapy and surgical intervention groups were 1.3% and 1.7% respectively. The intestinal necrosis rate was increased gradually with the prolongation of time interval between conservative therapy and operation, and the death might occur 24 hours after strangulation.


Conclusion:

The epidemiological transition to adhesive obstruction still exists in China, and it is similar to that in Western countries. In our experience, near half of the patients with simple obstruction may achieve palliation by conservative therapy. Surgical intervention is indicated for the patients with prolonged and non-palliated simple obstruction, or strangulation disease within the first 24 hours.

Key words: intestinal obstruction, etiology, prognosis, mortality

CLC Number: 

  • R574.2

Table 1

Demographic characteristics and etiology of the 705 cases of acute intestinal obstruction from 1995 to 2002"

Characteristics n Proportion (%)
Gender distribution
Male 390 55.3
Female 315 44.7
Lesion position
Small bowel 501 71.1
Large bowel 204 28.9
Type
Simple obstruction 582 82.6
Strangulation obstruction 123 17.4
Etiology
Adhesions 437 62.0
-Previous abdominal surgery 416 59.0
-None 21 3.0
Neoplasms 167 23.7
-Colorectal tumors 152 21.6
-Metastatic intestinal tumors 15 2.1
Incarcerated external hernias 26 3.7
Intussusception 20 2.8
Congenital intestinal diseases 19 2.7
-Congenital megacolon 16 2.3
-Congenital intestinal atresia or stenosis 3 0.4
Intestinal tuberculosis 12 1.7
Volvulus 10 1.4
Gallbladder stone in feces or gallstone 5 0.7
External compression 4 0.6
-Ovarian tumors 2 0.3
-Enlarged lymph nodes 2 0.3
Meckel's diverticulum 3 0.4
Crohn's disease 2 0.3

Table 2

Intervention and outcome of the cases of acute intestinal obstruction [Cases (%)]"

Time interval n Intestinal necrosis Mortality
Events Stratified rate(%) Accumulation rate(%) Events Stratified rate(%) Accumulation rate(%)
<12 h 6 1 16.7 16.7 0 0 0
~24 h 16 3 18.8 18.2 0 0 0
~48 h 31 6 19.4 18.9 2 6.5 3.8
~72 h 38 10 26.3 22.0 2 5.3 4.4
≥72 h 17 9 52.9 26.9 1 5.9 4.6
Total 108 29 26.9 5 4.6

Figure 1

Overall outcome of the cases of acute intestinal obstruction"

Table 3

Impacts of time interval before surgical interventions on the prognosis of strangulation obstruction"

Time interval n Intestinal necrosis Mortality
Events Stratified rate(%) Accumulation rate(%) Events Stratified rate(%) Accumulation rate(%)
<12 h 6 1 16.7 16.7 0 0 0
~24 h 16 3 18.8 18.2 0 0 0
~48 h 31 6 19.4 18.9 2 6.5 3.8
~72 h 38 10 26.3 22.0 2 5.3 4.4
≥72 h 17 9 52.9 26.9 1 5.9 4.6
Total 108 29 26.9 5 4.6

Figure 2

Linear correlation between intestinal necrosis and mortality"

Table 4

Etiology of acute intestinal obstruction reported in Chinese articles from 2002 to 2007"

Reports Period Sample First (%) Second (%) Third (%)
Ao[7] 2002 1982-2000 866 Adhesions (30.6) Tumor (19.9) Hernia (15.2)
Tang et al[8] 2002 1990-2000 599 Adhesions (70.4) Tumor (13.5) Hernia (–)
Wang et al[9] 2002 1991-2000 354 Adhesions (52.5) Tumor (25.4) Hernia (13.8)
Zhao et al [10] 2002 1991-2000 504 Adhesions (33.9) Tumor (20.6) Hernia (14.2)
Zhu et al [11] 2004 1994-2003 456 Tumor (42.4) Adhesions (31.6) Hernia (11.6)
Tang et al [12] 2005 1995-2004 368 Adhesions (60.0) Hernia (12.7) Tumor (10.3)
Hu et al [13] 2006 1985-2005 346 Adhesions (62.4) Ascarid (21.0) Tumor (15.3)
Rui et al [14] 2006 1990-2005 500 Tumor (56.9) Adhesions (30.5) Hernia (3.4)
Bi et al [15] 2006 1992-2004 385 Adhesions (83.1) Tumor (7.3) Hernia (1.3)
Liu et al [16] 2006 1995-2004 500 Tumor (39.0) Adhesions (37.8) Hernia (13.2)
Peng et al [4] 2007 1980-2000 1 177 Adhesions (48.8) Tumor (28.8) Hernia (12.2)
Zhang et al[17] 2007 2002-2005 536 Adhesions (67.5) Tumor (20.9 ) Hernia (6.5)
Combination 6 591 Adhesions (48.9) Tumor (25.6) Hernia (10.9)
[1] Akcakaya A, Alimoglu O, Hevenk T , et al. Mechanical intestinal obstruction caused by abdominal wall hernias[J]. Ulus Travma Derg, 2000,6(4):260-265
pmid: 11813483
[2] McEntee G, Pender D, Mulvin D , et al. Current spectrum of intestinal obstruction[J]. Br J Surg, 1987,74(11):976-980
doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800741105 pmid: 3690244
[3] Bevan PG . Adhesive obstruction[J]. Ann R Coll Surg Engl, 1984,66(3):164-169
[4] Peng W, Xiao HH . Etiology analysis of 1 177 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Zhong Wai Jian Kang Wen Zhai Xin Yi Xue Xue Kan, 2007,4(6):725-726
彭文, 肖慧红 . 肠梗阻1 177例病因分析[J]. 中外健康文摘 (新医学学刊), 2007,4(6):725-726
[5] Miller G, Boman J, Shrier I , et al. Natural history of patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction[J]. Br J Surg, 2000,87(9):1240-1247
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2168.2000.01530.x pmid: 10971435
[6] Senthilkumar MP, Dreyer JS . Peritoneal adhesions: pathogenesis, assessment and effects[J]. Trop Gastroenterol, 2006,27(1):11-18
pmid: 16910054
[7] Ao JW . Etiological study of 866 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Lin Chuang Wai Ke Za Zhi, 2002,10(z1):68-69
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-6483.2002.z1.030
敖金文 . 肠梗阻866例病因探讨[J]. 临床外科杂志, 2002,10(z1):68-69
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-6483.2002.z1.030
[8] Tang S, Zhang LY . Clinical analysis of intestinal obstruction: a review of 599 cases[J]. Zhongguo Shi Yong Wai Ke Za Zhi, 2002,22(8):492-493
doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1005-2208.2002.08.020
唐·苏雅拉图, 张连阳 . 肠梗阻599例临床分析[J]. 中国实用外科杂志, 2002,22(8):492-493
doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1005-2208.2002.08.020
[9] Wang XD, Wang R, Yang X , et al. Retrospective analysis on diagnosis and treatment of 354 cases suffer from acute intestinal obstruction[J]. Xi Bei Guo Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi, 2002,23(4):268-270
王旭东, 王蕊, 杨鑫 , 等. 急性肠梗阻354例回顾分析[J]. 西北国防医学杂志, 2002,23(4):268-270
[10] Zhao EB, Wen QH . Etiological analysis of 504 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Shanxi Lin Chuang Yi Yao, 2002,11(2):114-116
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-8631.2002.02.018
赵二保, 问全海 . 肠梗阻504例病因分析[J]. 山西临床医药, 2002,11(2):114-116
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-8631.2002.02.018
[11] Zhu L, Jiang T, Zhou CZ . Etiologic analysis and treatment of 456 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Fu Bu Wai Ke, 2004,17(4):228-229
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-5591.2004.04.015
朱麟, 江弢, 周崇治 . 肠梗阻456例的病因分析及治疗[J]. 腹部外科, 2004,17(4):228-229
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-5591.2004.04.015
[12] Tang AQ, Wang M, Qin JL , et al. Clinical analysis of 415 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Guangxi Yi Xue, 2005,27(6):886-887
唐安球, 王敏, 覃建论 , 等. 肠梗阻415例临床分析[J]. 广西医学, 2005,27(6):886-887
[13] Hu YM . Clinical analysis of 346 cases of acute intestinal obstruction[J]. Zhejiang Yu Fang Yi Xue, 2006,18(9):66
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-0931.2006.09.045
胡永明 . 急性肠梗阻346例临床分析[J]. 浙江预防医学, 2006,18(9):66
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-0931.2006.09.045
[14] Rui B, Ding H, Xu ZP , et al. Etiology and treatment analysis of 500 adults with intestinal obstruction[J]. Xian Dai Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi, 2006,15(14):1950-1951
芮斌, 丁浩, 徐祖平 , 等. 500例成人肠梗阻原因及治疗分析[J]. 现代中西医结合杂志, 2006,15(14):1950-1951
[15] Bi XD, Zhao J, Li H , et al. Study of the timing of operation for acute ileus — 385 cases clinical treatment analysis[J]. Zhongguo Xian Dai Yi Xue Za Zhi, 2006,16(24):3742-3745
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-8982.2006.24.018
毕旭东, 赵晶, 黎辉 , 等. 急性肠梗阻的手术时机探讨——附385例临床治疗分析[J]. 中国现代医学杂志, 2006,16(24):3742-3745
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-8982.2006.24.018
[16] Liu J, Gu JZ, Zhang ZT , et al. Investigation of the etiologic and diagnosis of 500 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Beijing Yi Xue, 2006,28(3):162-164
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9713.2006.03.012
刘建, 谷俊朝, 张忠涛 , 等. 500例肠梗阻病因分析及诊断探讨[J]. 北京医学, 2006,28(3):162-164
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9713.2006.03.012
[17] Zhang DP, Wang T, Kong D . Etiologic analysis and treatment of 536 cases of intestinal obstruction[J]. Hua Xi Yi Xue, 2007,22(1):11-12
张大鹏, 王桐, 孔棣 . 肠梗阻536例的病因分析及治疗[J]. 华西医学, 2007,22(1):11-12
[18] Moran BJ . Adhesion-related small bowel obstruction[J]. Colorectal Dis, 2007,9(Suppl 2):39-44
doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2007.01347.x pmid: 17824969
[19] Hasnain SQ, Ahmed M . Intestinal obstruction in adults at the Aga Khan University Hospital[J]. J Pak Med Assoc, 1994,44(6):143-145
pmid: 8089908
[20] Jones K, Mangram AJ, Lebron RA , et al. Can a computed tomography scoring system predict the need for surgery in small-bowel obstruction?[J]. Am J Surg, 2007,194(6):780-783
doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.09.020
[21] Filippone A, Cianci R, Grassedonio E , et al. Four-section multidetector computed tomographic imaging of bowel obstruction: usefulness of axial and coronal plane combined reading[J]. J Comput Assist Tomogr, 2007,31(4):499-507
doi: 10.1097/01.rct.0000238013.87802.3c
[1] Lu Liu, Ying Gao. Study on the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and short-term prognosis of ischemic stroke using logistic regression model and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(9): 983-990.
[2] Feng Jiang, Lin-chun Fu, Jian-ping Ma, Qing Zhou, Bo Peng, Shi-ping Xie, Hui-jun Guo, Yong-xin Dong, Xiu-lan Ma, Xuan-xian Guo, Zhong-li Xie, Yan-ping Hu, Qing-ya Li, Hua-wei Li, Yan-tao Jin. Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome factors of patients with HIV infection or AIDS in China. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2011, 9(9): 955-964.
[3] Shu-kao Liu, Can Yan, Li-li Wu, Yi Pan. Study strategies for neurobiology mechanism of "kidney storing will and responding to fear". Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(2): 106-110.
[4] Jing-yun Fan, Zong-wen Huang, Jia Guo. Value of four scoring systems for predicting prognosis of severe acute pancreatitis. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2009, 7(1): 34-40.
[5] Hong-qiang Wei, Zong-wen Huang, Hui Li. Early treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in adhesive intestinal obstruction. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(10): 1062-1064.
[6] Jing-xia Liu, Jian-sheng Li, Dong Wang, Jing Su, Xiao-yan Guo, Jie Sun, Ning Li. Effects of Naomaitong and thrombolysis on injuries of lung and stomach in rats with cerebral ischemia. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2007, 5(4): 451-456.
[7] Tian-ming Wen​, Shi-da Wu​, Jing Wang​. Potential effects of the methods for warming yang and nourishing yin on long-term prognosis of chronic heart failure. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2006, 4(1): 7-9.
[8] Wen-jian Wang. Prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2004, 2(5): 390-395.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
[1] Jin-zhou Tian, Jing Shi, Xin-qing Zhang, Qi Bi, Xin Ma, Zhi-liang Wang, Xiao-bin Li, Shu-li Shen, Lin Li, Zhen-yun Wu, Li-yan Fang, Xiao-dong Zhao, Ying-chun Miao, Peng-wen Wang, Ying Ren, Jun-xiang Yin, Yong-yan Wang, Beijing United Study Group on MCI of the Capital Foundation of Medical Developments. An explanation on "guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (protocol)". Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 15-21
[2] Yi-ting He, Qing-lin Zha, Jian-ping Yu, Yong Tan, Cheng Lu, Ai-ping Lv. Principal factor analysis of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and their correlations with efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 32-36
[3] Jun Cai, Hua Wang, Sheng Zhou, Bin Wu, Hua-rong Song, Zheng-rong Xuan. Effect of Sijunzi Decoction and enteral nutrition on T-cell subsets and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer after operation: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 37-40
[4] Wei Zhang, Xiang-feng Lu, Xiao-mei Zhang, Jian-jun Wu, Liang-duo Jiang. A rat model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by infusing bleomycin quickly through tracheal intubation. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 60-67
[5] A-gao Zhou, Yong Zhang, Gang Kui, De-Yun Kong, Hai-liang Ge, Qiu-hua Ren, Jia-rong Dong, Sheng Hong, Xu-ming Mao, Yin Wang, Hui-zheng Zhang, Shu-jun Wang. Influence of traditional Chinese compound recipes with different efficacy on body weight, tumor weight and immune function in H22 cancer-bearing mice. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 77-82
[6] Guo-hong Yuan, Xiao-jing Pang, He-chao Ma. Synergic effects of Danggui Buxue Decoction in reducing toxicity of cytoxan in tumor-bearing mice. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 83-88
[7] Li Zhou, Hong-xing Zhang, Ling-guang Liu, Wen-jun Wan. Effect of electro-acupuncture at Fenglong (GV 16) on nitric oxide and endothelin in rats with hyperlipidemia. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 89-92
[8] Jin-zhou Tian, Jing Shi, Xin-qing Zhang, Qi Bi, Xin Ma, Zhi-liang Wang, Xiao-bin Li, Shu-li Shen, Lin Li, Zhen-yun Wu, Li-yan Fang, Xiao-dong Zhao, Ying-chun Miao, Peng-wen Wang, Ying Ren, Jun-xiang Yin, Yong-yan Wang, Beijing United Study Group on MCI of the Capital Foundation of Medical Developments. Guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (protocol). Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 9-14
[9] Xin-jun Wang, Ling-ling Wang . A mechanism of endogenous opioid peptides for rapid onset of acupuncture effect in treatment of depression. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1014-1017
[10] Bo Wang , Wei Yan , Li-hui Hou, Xiao-ke Wu. Disorder of Tiangui (kidney essence) and reproductive dysfunction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1018-1022