%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of omentum removal on the risk for postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction recurrence: a case-control study.
%A Ariake K
%A Yokoyama S
%A Doi T
%A Takemura S
%A Kajiwara T
%A Kuroda F
%J Int J Surg
%V 13
%N 0
%D Jan 2015
%M 25475874
%F 13.4
%R 10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.11.031
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Surgical treatment for adhesive small bowel obstructions (ASBOs) is the only way to release the obstructive structure; however, opening the peritoneal cavity may cause new adhesions, possibly leading to recurrent episodes of ASBO. The risk factors for recurrent ASBO, after surgical treatment, are not fully understood.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The hospital records of 113 patients undergoing surgery for ASBO at Shirakawa Kousei (Japan) General Hospital, between 2002 and 2013, were studied. We compared the pre- and postoperative factors, intraoperative findings, and surgical histories of 18 patients with and 95 patients without recurrent ASBO. The risk factors for ASBO recurrence, after surgery, were determined using Cox-proportional hazard ratios.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The 5-year cumulative rate of overall recurrence was 20.8%. Among the 18 patients of recurrence, 11 (61.1%) were readmitted within 1 year of surgical treatment. Multivariate analysis revealed that a history of omentectomy was an independent risk factor for recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.98; p = 0.027). After omentectomy, the rate of adhesions to the peritoneum was significantly higher (with omentectomy, 54.5%; without omentectomy, 21.3%; p < 0.001), and the risk of adhesion or matted adhesion was increased (with omentectomy, 87.9%; without omentectomy, 53.8%; p < 0.001), compared with patients not undergoing omentectomy.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Omentectomy significantly increases the likelihood of ASBO recurrence. Therefore, patients undergoing omentectomy may be candidates for prophylactic anti-adhesion agents, particularly when there is a risk of matted abdominal wall adhesions.