Abstract

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Computed Tomography (CT) allows detecting different aspects of small bowel pathology in course of mechanical obstruction, principally correlated to circulatory disturbances, giving useful indications for a surgical treatment.

Introduction

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The small bowel mechanical obstruction is a complex clinical situation , with different  clinical aspects, often correlated to the grading of ileal loops pathology. Patients with intestinal occlusion, still constitute a difficult and vexing problem for the surgeon, in order to arrive to a precise diagnosis, and to an appropriate therapeutic decision. The value of CT in the diagnosis of intestinal occlusion is universally admitted, often permitting to determine the site and cause of the obstruction (1-8). Our aim was to extend the CT study to detect morphological aspects of the ileal loops correlated to this pathology, and to severity of the obstruction.

Methods

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We retrospectively reviewed 25 cases, 14 men and 11women, aged between 23 and 74 years, observed in the years 2009-2011, with small bowel mechanical occlusion, secondary to a fibrous band or matted adhesions, excluding patients with pre-existing gastroenterologic diseases or peritoneal carcinomatosis. In all a contrast enhanced CT was performed. We considered the following pre-defined morphological criteria, correlated with physio-pathological conditions, in order to value the intrinsic severity of the obstruction, distinguishing 4 classes :

1. contrast-enhanced hyper-density of the ileal loops, corresponding to an early vasodilatation, necessary for their hyper-peristalsis (Illustration 1);
2. evident dilatation of ileal loops, 3 times or more than normal, corresponding to a muscular wall de-compensation, and persisting endoluminal hypertension (Illustration 2);
3. mural thickening of more3 mm, with preserved contrast hyper-enhancement of the mucosa, corresponding to increased capillary permeability and secondary mucosa oedema (Illustration 3);
4. attenuated contrast enhancement of the ileal loops and mesenteric oedema, corresponding to an impending circulatory insufficiency (Illustration 4).
Coronal reformatted images were helpful and complementary to axials to improve reader confidence (9-10).
All the patients had a subsequent surgical procedure, whose results were considered the standard of reference.

Results

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It is evident the gradual worsening, through the aforementioned four classes of the CT signs of ileal obstruction, towards a condition of insufficient vascular supply. The following percentages were calculated considering, for a single case, the most advanced symptoms:

Class 1= 9 cases (36%);
Class 2 = 10 cases (40%);
Class 3 = 4 cases (16%);
Class 4 = 2 cases (8%).

The feeble numeric percentage of cases found in class 3 and 4 corresponded to the necessity of a previous emergency treatment, imposed by critical clinical conditions. These results were compared with those of a control group of combined large and small bowel obstruction, where no important signs of ileal loops pathology could be seen, except their dilatation.

Discussion

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In case of small bowel mechanical occlusion, the association of different morpho-pathological signs in a single case is common; usually the more advanced sign is the result of the progressive passage trough the previous stages, indicating the worsening of the disease. The morphological criteria distinguishing the afore mentioned Class 4 can further aggravate towards a condition of absent contrast enhancement in the ileal loops, secondary to their parietal overdistension and to compression of the capillary network. Impending severe ischemia and danger of perforation follows, with the subsequent diagnosis of acute secondary peritonitis. Our proposed correlations between morphological and physio-pathological indicators of the severity of intestinal obstruction were performed with the guide of CT. Similar studies, always  based on signs of secondary vascular pathology, demonstrated the CT value in particular conditions, as intestinal volvulus, or whirl of one or two ileal loops (11-16). We extended this “vascular interpretation” to different other CT signs, interesting the small bowels loops proximally to the site of a mechanical obstruction. The subsequent clinical implications are clear: fluid sequestration in the  abdominal compartment, possible evolution towards a condition of severe ischemia with impending danger of parietal pneumatosis, bacterial translocation, aeroportitis, and also small bowel perforation. The venous mesenteric congestion in course of ileal mechanical obstruction was just the subject of our recent report (17). Here we recall attention to the different CT grades and aspects of intrinsic intestinal wall pathology, chiefly based on secondary vascular alterations, and usefully addressing to a prompt diagnosis. Nevertheless, in case of small bowel occlusion, we must always admit that the final diagnosis and surgical indication must consider all the clinical, laboratory and radiological signs. The condition of combined large and small gut occlusion does not induce so important and early pathological changes in the small bowels, probably because of its less acute onset and slower increasing distension.

Conclusion(s)

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Contrast enhanced CT permits to demonstrate the different, often progressive, graded stages of ileal bowel pathology in course of mechanical occlusion, giving important elements for an accurate diagnosis. The present study confirms the great value of CT in detecting important aspects of small bowel pathology, correctly examining their circulatory secondary lesions.

Reference(s)

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Source(s) of Funding

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None

Competing Interests

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None

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