TYPES, SITES AND CAUSES OF MECHANICAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION

Abstract

Background: The pattern of types, sites and causes of intestinal obstruction is changing continuously from time to time and region to region. The objectives of this study were to determine the types, sites and causes of mechanical intestinal obstruction in our population. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at DHQ Hospital, Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from January 2011 to July 2014. A sample of 95 patients with age more than 14 years with mechanical intestinal obstruction was selected from an estimated at risk population of 1,000 individuals from district Karak. Sex, age, types, sites and causes of mechanical intestinal obstruction were variables. Except age all other variables were nominal and described by count and percentage with estimated parameters. Results: Out of 95 patients, 57 (60%) were men and 38 (40%) women with ratio of 1.5:1. Mean age was 41.15±12.63 (18-70) with a range of 52 years. Type of presentation was acute in 35 (36.84%), chronic in 25 (26.31%) and acute on chronic in 35 (36.84%) cases. Level of intestinal obstruction was small gut in 70 (73.68%), large gut in 23 (24.21%) and both in two (02.11%) cases. Cause of obstruction was adhesions in 27 (28.42%), abdominal hernias in 25 (26.32%) and malignancies in 15 (15.78%) cases. Conclusion: In our population of mechanical intestinal obstruction patients, type of presentation was equal by acute and chronic, site of intestinal obstruction was small gut in maximum cases and cause of obstruction was adhesions on top followed by abdominal hernias and malignancies.