Strangulating Intestinal Obstruction: A Review of 115 Cases

Internal strangulating intestinal obstruction may present with the clinical features of gut obstruction, of peritonitis or of both, depending on the time of onset of strangulation of the blood supply. The varying clinical pattern of presentation frequently leads to misdiagnosis and delay in operative treatment. Plain X-ray films of the abdomen are frequently misleading, particularly in those cases presenting with features of peritonitis. During the 15-year period 1953-1967, there were 115 patients with strangulating obstruction admitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Before 1960 the mortality rate was 29%, whereas after 1960 the mortality rate was 9.6%.