A member asked:
if i had a small bowel obstruction with a closed loop and herniation in to the omentum, what is the likelyhood it could happen again?
3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Matthew Lublinanswered
General Surgery 25 years experience
Unlikely: If you had surgery, which i assume you did, the chances of a recuurent bowel obstruction are low but possible. It is very infrequent that people require multiple surgerires for recurrent bowel obstructions.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Tracy Berg commented
General Surgery 32 years experience
I agree, and the chances of a recurrence are about 10%.
Dec 23, 2012
Dr. Elie Schochetanswered
Colon and Rectal Surgery 18 years experience
Good if not fixed: If you had surgery to repair the herniation, then the omentum was likelysplit and it is unlikely to recure. If it was treated conservatively non-operatively, then it is likely to recur. Often the small bowel loops are scarred down or adhesed to the omentum and if there is a hole in the omentum its only a matter of time before things re-herniate.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Andrew Glantzanswered
General Surgery 38 years experience
Recurrence of SBO: Any small bowel obstruction has the potential to recur, even after surgery. Persistent signs and symptoms should be followed and investigated if severe.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Tracy Berg commented
General Surgery 32 years experience
With each episode of bowel obstruction requiring a surgical intervention, the risk for a recurrence is increased by about 10%.
Dec 23, 2012
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Last updated Dec 1, 2017
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