Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: A Review.

Adhesion is a leading cause of small bowel obstruction. Adhesive small bowel obstruction has significant challenges in diagnosis, treatment and prevention with considerable impact on morbidity and socioeconomic burden. Small bowel obstruction caused by adhesion or any other aetiology is clinically indistinguishable due to similar clinical presentation. Computed Tomography scans and water-soluble contrast studies are more specific in diagnosis and possess value in predicting the need for surgery. Surgical management is indicated only in complicated cases or failed conservative treatments with the majority resolving with non-operative management. However, there is no clear-cut consensus about the timing of operative intervention. Meticulous surgical practice is the keystone in preventing adhesion formation despite the availability of numerous pharmacological and surgical strategies. This review aims to update the current knowledge of the pathophysiology of adhesion formation, treatment options and various prevention modalities of adhesive small bowel obstruction. Keywords: diagnosis; laparotomy; prevention; surgery.

Rectal Foreign Body: A Case Report.

The rectal foreign body is a rare presentation, often related to sexual gratification, sexual assault, or the result of ingestion and rarely accidental, and with rising incidence. We present a case of a 47-year-old heterosexual male with an alleged history of accidental insertion of a foreign body through the anus three days prior without peritonitis or obstipation. After investigations, the patient underwent a failed sigmoidoscopic removal followed by exploratory laparotomy, foreign body removal, and an uneventful post-operative period. It should be noted that early diagnosis and timely intervention are important to prevent complications in rectal foreign bodies. Assessment of the shape, size, nature, and location of the object through appropriate imaging is necessary. Exploratory laparotomy is inevitable in cases of failed manual extraction techniques and complicated cases. Keywords: case reports; foreign bodies; laparotomy; rectum; sigmoidoscopy.