Role of Multidetector Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Intestinal Obstruction with Surgical Correlation- A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency that is encountered in general surgery units and it contributes to substantial patient morbidity and healthcare costs. Computed Tomography (CT) has emerged as an invaluable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of bowel obstruction and helps in deciding early surgery. The CT gives information on the cause for obstruction, its location, and complications like closed loop obstruction, bowel ischaemia. Aim: 1. To evaluate the accuracy of CT in diagnosing the presence, level and cause of intestinal obstruction. 2. To detect the presence of complications and demonstrate threatening signs of bowel non-viability. 3. To relate CT findings with intraoperative findings. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was done at the Department of Radiology, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, India from April 2021 to September 2021. A total of 40 patients, ≥18 years of age with clinical suspicion of intestinal obstruction, were subjected to Contrast- Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) of the abdomen. The sensitivity , specificity, positive and negative predictive values of Muti-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) were calculated. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 18.5 software. Results: Total of 40 patients were analysed (25 males and 15 females ; mean age: 50.5 years). Small bowel obstruction constituted 75% of cases and large bowel obstruction constituted 25% of the cases. Ileum was the most common site of obstruction. Adhesions were the leading cause seen. Closed loop obstruction with bowel ischaemia and gangrene were observed in five patients (12.5%). Comparison of CT and per-operative findings showed that CT has a high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of 97.44%, 100%, 97.50%; 92.31%, 100%, 92.50% and 100%, 94.12%, 95%, respectively for determining the level, cause and complications of obstruction. Conclusion: The MDCT has high diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing the level, cause and complications of intestinal obstruction with the highest of 97.50% for identifying the cause of obstruction. CT is 100% sensitive in picking up complications like bowel ischemia. Thus, MDCT were in concordance with intra operative findings for the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction and can guide surgeons in the management of these patients.

Keywords

• acute abdominal pain
• large bowel
• multiplanar imaging
• small bowel