[Laparoscopic treatment of small intestine obstruction]

Laparoscopic surgery for small bowel obstruction is still under evaluation. A review of the literature retrieved over 200 published cases. Technically, the open laparoscopy procedure seems mandatory to avoid bowel injuries. Grasping the enlarged bowel and using monopolar cautery should be avoided. The surgeon should also be sure that at the end of the procedure adhesiolysis was correct. Evaluation of the results must also take into account that most studies were retrospective and included few patients. The cumulative effectiveness rate of laparoscopy was 60%. Failures were mainly due to multiple adhesions, iatrogenic perforations to the intestine, and colonic cancers not recognized before the procedure. There was no prospective study comparing laparoscopy with laparotomy. Finally, it is not proved at present that laparoscopy prevents the recurrence of adhesions after digestive surgery. Owing to the results of the literature, laparoscopic surgery for acute small bowel obstruction does not appear as based on fact.