Water-Soluble Contrast Challenge for Suspected Small Bowel Obstruction: Technical Success Rate, Accuracy, and Clinical Outcomes

Small bowel neuroendocrine neoplasm: what surgeons want to know

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the small bowel are a diverse group of tumors with a broad spectrum of imaging findings and clinical implications. Most tumors originate in close proximity to the ileocecal valve and most commonly metastasize to the mesentery and liver. This review will highlight the imaging findings of primary and metastatic small bowel neuroendocrine neoplasm that are most relevant to the surgical team.

Prognostic Value of Water-Soluble Contrast Challenge for Nonadhesive Small Bowel Obstruction

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence supporting the use of a water-soluble contrast challenge (WSCC) for conservative management of nonadhesive small bowel obstruction (NASBO). Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic value of the WSCC in a diverse group of patients with NASBO in comparison with patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of patients with ASBO or NASBO who underwent a WSCC during a 4-year time period was performed. The primary study endpoint was any intervention for small bowel obstruction during the initial admission or within 30 days of discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 106 patients were included, 53 with ASBO (mean age 64 ± 13 years [SD]; 55% women) and 53 with NASBO (mean age 59 ± 13 years [SD]; 57% women). A higher rate of interventions during admission or within 30 days of discharge was seen in patients with NASBO compared with ASBO (24/53 [45%] vs 12/53 [23%]; p = 0.01), including those with colonic transit times of less than 36 hours (14/41 [34%] vs 5/43 [12%]; p = 0.01). Using multivariate analysis, transit time greater than 36 hours remained an independent predictor of an intervention during admission or within 30 days of discharge (p < 0.001, odds ratio 19.0), after controlling for the type of small bowel obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of patients with NASBO were successfully managed conservatively during a 30-day period, supporting the use of WSCC in patients with NASBO; however, patients with NASBO had a higher rate of interventions during admission or within 30 days of discharge.

Evaluating suspected small bowel obstruction with the water-soluble contrast challenge

With optimized technique, the water-soluble contrast challenge is effective at triaging patients for operative vs non-operative management of suspected small bowel obstruction. Standardized study structure and interpretation guidelines aid in clinical efficacy and ease of use. Many tips and tricks exist regarding technique and interpretation, and their understanding may assist the interpreting radiologist. In the future, a CT-based water-soluble contrast challenge, utilizing oral contrast given as part of the initial CT examination, might allow for a more streamlined algorithm and provide more rapid results.