Acute Bowel Obstruction Report

Reports | Published: 09 Jan 2020

The aim of this study is to highlight areas where care could be improved in patients who were admitted to hospital and had a diagnosis of acute bowel obstruction. Using a retrospective questionnaire review for nearly 700 patients and a case note review for nearly 300 patients, the study reviewed the quality of care provided to patients over the age of 16 for acute bowel obstruction.

Findings highlight significant opportunities to improve the care of patients with acute bowel obstruction. The overarching finding was that there were significant delays in the pathway of care for this group of patients, from requesting imaging, diagnosis, decision-making and availability of an operating theatre. Subsequent recommendations which are addressed in the report and were formed by a consensus exercise have the potential to improve the care for a large number of surgical patients.

You can download the report and summary report here.

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Acute Bowel Obstruction Report