Surgical workload and cost of postoperative adhesion-related intestinal obstruction: importance of previous surgery

Postoperative intraabdominal adhesions cause morbidity of varying degree. Intestinal obstruction is the most severe complication of adhesions. This study examined the importance of previous surgery on clinical and economic workloads caused by intestinal obstruction due to postoperative intraabdominal adhesions. All emergency hospitalizations due to adhesion-related intestinal obstruction from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999 in a hospital district serving roughly 450,000 inhabitants was reviewed retrospectively. The patient population was divided into six groups according to the site of previous surgery, and the total as well as group-related surgical workload and direct costs of inpatient care were analyzed. There were 123 hospitalizations due to postoperative adhesion-related intestinal obstruction during the study period. A total of 101 patients had experienced 176 operations. The most prevalent operations were colorectal (with or without other operations), upper abdominal, and female reproductive system procedures. Colorectal surgery preceded 40% and 38% of inpatient episodes and inpatient days, respectively. Altogether, 40 operations were performed because of adhesion-related intestinal obstruction. No differences between groups were seen in terms of the mean operating or theater time. Total annual inpatient costs due to emergency hospitalizations for intestinal adhesion-related obstruction related to colorectal surgery in a hospital district serving roughly 450,000 inhabitants was 72,520.60 (U.S. dollars) which accounted for 35.3% of all annual costs caused by postoperative adhesion-related intestinal obstructions. There were no significant differences between groups regarding the total mean inpatient episode costs. Intestinal obstruction due to postoperative adhesions poses substantial costs for the society. Colorectal operations are the most important procedures preceding adhesion-related intestinal obstruction, accounting for 35.3% to 46.8% of the total clinical workload or costs attributable to postoperative adhesion-related obstruction.