The records of 238 patients with the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction who were managed surgically and/or conservatively at the Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital form Jan. 1987 through Jun. 1991 were reviewed.
1) The most prevalent age groups were under the one-year-old group in operative cases and 5th decade in conservatively treated cases. The male to female sex ratio was 1.8 : 1 totally.
2) The main cause of intestinal obstruction was postoperative adhesion in 154 cases(64.8%), intussusception in 31 cases (13.0%).
3) About half(42.4%) of the patients came to the hospital within 48 hours and the operation rate was increased according to flow of time.
4) Leukocytosis(over 10,000/mm3) was noted in 53.7% of operative cases and 56.2% of conservatively treated cases. No classical findings including leukocytosis, tachycardia, fever and peritoneal irritation signs were visible in 19.4% of operation
cases
and 29.2% of conservatively treated cases.
5) In conservatively treated cases, 52.3% of patients were treated within 24 hours after admission.
6) As for the operative procedures, 31 cases(28.7%) were treated by adhesiolysis only, 28 cases (25.9%) by resection and primary anastomosis, 17 cases (15.7%) by manual reduction of intussusception.
7) The incidences of bowel resection and primary anastomosis were 6.0% in case who were operated 1 day after admission and 87.5% in cases who were operated 5 day after admission. The incidence of bowel resection and primary anastomosis was
increased
according to delayed operation.
8) The incidence of post-operative complications was 26.8% and the most common complication was wound infection in 62.0%.
9) The average duration of admission was 11 days in operative cases and 19 days in conservatively treated cases.
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