Can small bowel obstruction during pregnancy be treated with conservative management? A review.

Goran Augustin, Fausto Catena, Xiao Shuang Ling, Wei Cheng Anthony Brian Tian

Journal: World journal of emergency surgery : WJES 2024;19(1):13

PMID: 38600568

Free Full Text on BioMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Small bowel obstruction can occur during pregnancy, which, if missed, can lead to dire consequences for both the mother and foetus. Management of this condition usually requires surgical intervention. However, only a small number of patients are treated conservatively.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to review the literature to determine the feasibility of conservative management for small bowel obstruction.

METHODS

A systematic search of the PubMed and Embase databases was performed using the keywords [small bowel obstruction AND pregnancy]. All original articles were then reviewed and included in this review if deemed suitable.

CONCLUSION

Conservative management of small bowel obstruction in pregnant women is feasible if the patient is clinically stable and after ruling out bowel ischaemia and closed-loop obstruction.

Address: Department of General Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. [email protected].; Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.; General and Emergency Surgery Department, Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy.

DOI: 10.1186/s13017-024-00541-y

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https://medlineplus.gov/intestinalobstruction.html

MeSH Terms: Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Conservative Treatment, Intestinal Obstruction, Intestine, Small