Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion

Abstract Background Despite the prevalence of laparoscopic techniques in abdominal surgeries today, bowel obstruction remains a potentially serious complication. Small bowel strangulation (SBS), in particular, is a critical condition that can lead to patient mortality. However, the prognosis for SBS...

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Main Authors: Takeshi Yamada, Yuto Aoki, Akihisa Matsuda, Yasuyuki Yokoyama, Goro Takahashi, Takuma Iwai, Seiichi Shinji, Hiromichi Sonoda, Kay Uehara, Hiroshi Yoshida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ags3.12894
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author Takeshi Yamada
Yuto Aoki
Akihisa Matsuda
Yasuyuki Yokoyama
Goro Takahashi
Takuma Iwai
Seiichi Shinji
Hiromichi Sonoda
Kay Uehara
Hiroshi Yoshida
author_facet Takeshi Yamada
Yuto Aoki
Akihisa Matsuda
Yasuyuki Yokoyama
Goro Takahashi
Takuma Iwai
Seiichi Shinji
Hiromichi Sonoda
Kay Uehara
Hiroshi Yoshida
author_sort Takeshi Yamada
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite the prevalence of laparoscopic techniques in abdominal surgeries today, bowel obstruction remains a potentially serious complication. Small bowel strangulation (SBS), in particular, is a critical condition that can lead to patient mortality. However, the prognosis for SBS is favorable if surgery is performed before the onset of necrosis. Non‐necrotic SBS is a reversible condition in which blood flow can be restored by relieving the strangulation. The purpose of this study was to identify sensitive and specific contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) findings that are useful for diagnosis of both non‐necrotic and necrotic SBS. Methods We included patients diagnosed with SBS and simple bowel obstruction (SBO) who underwent contrast‐enhanced CT followed by surgery from 2006 to 2023. Two gastrointestinal surgeons independently assessed the images retrospectively. Results Eighty SBO and 141 SBS patients were included. Eighty‐seven had non‐necrotic SBS and 54 had necrotic SBS. Mesenteric edema was most frequently observed in both necrotic and non‐necrotic SBS cases followed by abnormal bowel wall thickening. These two findings were observed significantly less frequently in SBO. Bowel hypo‐enhancement is identified in only about half of the non‐necrotic SBS cases, and it was detected at significantly higher rates in necrotic SBS compared to non‐necrotic. Conclusion Mesenteric edema and abnormal bowel wall thickening are sensitive and specific signs of both non‐necrotic and necrotic SBS. These two findings indicate mesenteric and bowel congestion. Detecting intestinal congestion can lead to an accurate diagnosis of SBS, particularly in case of non‐necrotic SBS, where bowel hypo‐enhancement may sometimes be absent.
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spelling doaj-art-f5768c39dd5c4fcd8dbd0f32abb8dcc62025-08-20T02:30:47ZengWileyAnnals of Gastroenterological Surgery2475-03282025-05-019353854510.1002/ags3.12894Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestionTakeshi Yamada0Yuto Aoki1Akihisa Matsuda2Yasuyuki Yokoyama3Goro Takahashi4Takuma Iwai5Seiichi Shinji6Hiromichi Sonoda7Kay Uehara8Hiroshi Yoshida9Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanAbstract Background Despite the prevalence of laparoscopic techniques in abdominal surgeries today, bowel obstruction remains a potentially serious complication. Small bowel strangulation (SBS), in particular, is a critical condition that can lead to patient mortality. However, the prognosis for SBS is favorable if surgery is performed before the onset of necrosis. Non‐necrotic SBS is a reversible condition in which blood flow can be restored by relieving the strangulation. The purpose of this study was to identify sensitive and specific contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) findings that are useful for diagnosis of both non‐necrotic and necrotic SBS. Methods We included patients diagnosed with SBS and simple bowel obstruction (SBO) who underwent contrast‐enhanced CT followed by surgery from 2006 to 2023. Two gastrointestinal surgeons independently assessed the images retrospectively. Results Eighty SBO and 141 SBS patients were included. Eighty‐seven had non‐necrotic SBS and 54 had necrotic SBS. Mesenteric edema was most frequently observed in both necrotic and non‐necrotic SBS cases followed by abnormal bowel wall thickening. These two findings were observed significantly less frequently in SBO. Bowel hypo‐enhancement is identified in only about half of the non‐necrotic SBS cases, and it was detected at significantly higher rates in necrotic SBS compared to non‐necrotic. Conclusion Mesenteric edema and abnormal bowel wall thickening are sensitive and specific signs of both non‐necrotic and necrotic SBS. These two findings indicate mesenteric and bowel congestion. Detecting intestinal congestion can lead to an accurate diagnosis of SBS, particularly in case of non‐necrotic SBS, where bowel hypo‐enhancement may sometimes be absent.https://doi.org/10.1002/ags3.12894acute abdomensmall bowel obstructionstrangulation
spellingShingle Takeshi Yamada
Yuto Aoki
Akihisa Matsuda
Yasuyuki Yokoyama
Goro Takahashi
Takuma Iwai
Seiichi Shinji
Hiromichi Sonoda
Kay Uehara
Hiroshi Yoshida
Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion
Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery
acute abdomen
small bowel obstruction
strangulation
title Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion
title_full Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion
title_fullStr Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion
title_short Diagnosis of necrotic and non‐necrotic small bowel strangulation: The importance of intestinal congestion
title_sort diagnosis of necrotic and non necrotic small bowel strangulation the importance of intestinal congestion
topic acute abdomen
small bowel obstruction
strangulation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ags3.12894
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