Abstract:
Small bowel obstruction is a common potentially catastrophic surgical emergency in all age
group in the world. Pattern and treatment outcome of Small bowel obstruction in eastern
Ethiopia communities have not yet been thoroughly investigated.
Objective: The aim of the study is to assess pattern and treatment outcome of small bowel
obstruction among patients admitted with acute abdomen to surgical ward of HiwotFana
Comprehensive Specialized Hospital surgical ward, harar, Ethiopia. Data was retrieved from
September 1, 2020 – September 30, 2022.
Method: The study was conducted among 192 cases using crossectional study design and
following convenience sampling technique. Structured extraction format was used to collect
relevant data. Data was interred to Epi info 7.2; analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences version 25 software package. Bi-variate and Multi-variate logistic regression was
employed to assess association between dependent and independent variables with 95% CI and
p-value less than 0.05.
Result:A total of 192 files were used; with data retrieval rate of 88.48 %.Twenty two patients
were managed non operatively and 170 patients were operated. The mean age was 34 +
14.3years and the male to female ratio was 9:1.Simple small bowel volvulus was the
predominant intraoperative finding (40.8%) followed by gangrenous Small bowel obstruction
(29.8%) of any causes then Adhesion or band (21.2%). Derotation was the common procedure
done (50%). Favorable outcome was found in 66.7% of the cases. Surgical Site Infection
(27.5%) was the most common complication. gangrenous Small Bowel Obstruction had 91.1%
times more likely to have unfavorable outcome compared to those with simple Small Bowel
Obstruction (AOR-0.089 CI=95% (0.009-0.850)P-0.036.
Conclusion and Recommendation: common pattern was primary Small bowel volvulus.
Comorbidity, Leukocytosis and having abdominal tenderness were associated with unfavorable
outcome. Community awareness about bowel obstruction should increase to avoid late
presentation.
