Therapeutic role of gastrografin in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction

BACKGROUND: Adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) is often managed conservatively, but laparotomy may be the final step. Numerous researches have examined the benefits of oral gastrografin for both assessment and treatment of ASBO, but no clear consensus has been reached.Aim: To assess gastrografin's role in the conservative management of ASBO.METHODS: This research comprised a 70 participants with an ASBO diagnosis. Patients were assigned to the gastrografin and control groups. After receiving 100 milliliters of oral gastrografin, abdominal radiographs were taken repeatedly. Laparotomy was performed on patients whose large bowel did not get the contrast within one day, since they were considered to have total blockage. Conservative therapy was continued for patients whose large bowel received the contrast within 24 hours. The resolution of the adhesive attack was assessed clinically and radiologically, and the duration of hospitalisation was estimated.RESULTS: The gastrografin group saw a 17% surgery rate, compared to 37% in the control group. In individuals whose colon was not reached by contrast within a day, surgery was required in 100% of cases, and in 3.3% of cases, it did. Patients' obstructive symptoms resolved sooner in those who got gastrografin. Compared to the control group (5.8d), the gastrografin group's hospital stay was shorter (3.8d). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrografin aids with early resolution, shortens hospital stays, and lowers the surgery rate, making it a useful management tool for ASBO.