ENTEROTOMY DURING THE SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF SMALL-BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

The complications of operative treatment of small bowel obstruction we re analyzed in 320 patients at the Carl T. Hayden Veteran's Affairs Me dical Center. Morbidity and mortality rates increased when the lumen o f the obstructed bowel was entered by intraoperative enterotomy or by resection, compared with enterolysis alone for obstruction. Simple rep air of operative injury had fewer postoperative complications than bow el resection. When bowel resection was required, the presence of gangr ene further increased postoperative morbidity and mortality rates.