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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with a Previous History of Biliary Tract Surgery
Published on: February 10, 2023
Predictive value of signs and symptoms for small bowel obstruction in patients with prior surgery
Timothy B Jang1, Danielle Schindler, Amy H Kaji
1David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, CA 90509, USA. tbj@ucla.edu
Background:
The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of various signs and symptoms for small bowel obstruction (SBO) in patients with prior abdominal surgery.
Methods:
This was a secondary analysis of a previously reported prospective study of ultrasonography for SBO. Patients with prior abdominal surgery were identified and presenting signs and symptoms were compared to the CT diagnosis of SBO.
Results:
No signs or symptoms were predictive of SBO.
Conclusion:
No constellation of signs and symptoms can be used to reliably exclude a SBO in patients with prior abdominal surgery.
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