Paper 11 - Small Bowel Obstruction

Adult Small Bowel Obstruction 

Taylor MR, Lalani N. Acad Emerg Med. 2013;20(6):528-44

Key Points:

• Things that predict small bowel obstruction:

• Abdominal distension (the best)

• Abdominal pain

• Abnormal bowel sounds

• CT and Ultrasound both excellent for diagnosing obstruction

• This review says that ultrasound is better

PMID: 23758299

Free Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acem.12150/full