[Administration of water-soluble contrast for the treatment of adhesive intestinal occlusion]

The water-soluble contrast has shown its effectiveness for the resolution of adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) in adults. The objective of this study is to compare the value of water-soluble contrast in children with SBO versus control group.

We conducted a case-control trial. Patients with a history of abdominal surgery and SBO diagnosed between 2008 and 2013 were included as controls. Conservative treatment or surgery depending on clinical evolution was performed in control group. The patients with SBO diagnosed from December 2012 were treated with water-soluble contrast. The main variable was the number of patients requiring surgery and the hospital stay and complications were the secondary variable.

Twenty controls and 8 cases were admitted with SBO. Surgery was required in 50% of control group patients and 25% in the contrast group (p>0.05). The hospital stay length was 6 days in control group versus 4 days in study group (p>0.05). No complications were attributed to the use of water-soluble contrast and 20% of complications happened in control group.

The need for surgery was lower in study group but not statically significant due to the small size of the sample. We concluded that water-soluble contrast is safe and effective in the management of SBO in children. We propose a multicentre study.