Does Nasogastric Decompression Benefit Patients with Small Bowel Obstruction?

An observational study suggests not.

Nasogastric decompression is a common therapy for patients with small bowel obstruction, but its routine use is not evidence-based. In a retrospective observational study, investigators compared outcomes among patients receiving versus not receiving nasogastric decompression.

Almost 200 patients with small bowel obstruction were enrolled, and half underwent decompression. Surgery and bowel resection were not less common in the decompression group, and their median length of stay was 2 days longer.

Reviewing Author

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Does Nasogastric Decompression Benefit Patients with Small Bowel Obstruction?

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Reviewing Author