Clinical Trial: Clinical and Financial Impact of an Evidenced-Based Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction Management Protocol

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Clinical and Financial Impact of an Evidenced-Based Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction Management Protocol

Brief Summary: This research study is for patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). ASBO is a condition in which the small intestine gets blocked due to scars called adhesions. To see the blockage, a contrast agent is given and an x-ray is taken of the belly (abdomen). MD Gastroview and omnipaque are two contrast agents that may be given as part of your normal care for ASBO. This study hopes to see if one is better than the other.

Detailed Summary:

Small bowel obstruction is a common general surgical diagnosis providing a significant proportion (16%) of the emergency general surgery admissions. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of clear, well defined management protocols for this very common problem which results in a wide array of management techniques used by the general surgeon. It has already been shown that CT scan with IV contrast is the most accurate method of identifying strangulated bowel, a diagnosis that requires urgent surgical intervention(4). There is no variability in this aspect of the treatment arm for ASBO, rather the variability is found in the medical management of ASBO. Nasogastric tube (NGT) decompression is a universal component of non-operative management but the duration of NGT therapy and the definition of failed medical management requiring surgery lack a clear consensus. It is this aspect of the management of ASBO that I am hoping to better define. Water soluble contrast (MD-Gastroview) has been shown to be both diagnostic and therapeutic in the management of ASBO decreasing length of stay in this patient population. Not only does it expedite the resolution of ASBO, but is also yields objective evidence whether or not ASBO will resolve with medical management alone, therefore decreasing delay in the inevitable surgical intervention.

The hypothesis of this study is that the implementation of an evidence based adhesive small bowel obstruction protocol can reduce length of stay and reduce the financial burden on the health care system regarding this common general surgical problem. A second hypothesis is that MD-Gastroview and omnipaque will have similar properties regarding their diagnostic and therapeutic impact on ASBO.


Sponsor: The Guthrie Clinic

Current Primary Outcome: Compare average length of stay for patients admitted with ASBO prior to and after implementation of this protocol. [ Time Frame: Three years ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Compare statistically significant results relating to differences in the diagnostic and therapeutic effects of MD-Gastroview and omnipaque. [ Time Frame: Three years ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: The Guthrie Clinic

Dates:
Date Received: July 18, 2016
Date Started: October 2016
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 6, 2016
Last Verified: October 2016