SnapSBO - Small Bowel Obstruction Snapshot Audit

Plain-language summary

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) and its complications are frequently seen in patients admitted through the Emergency Departments of all acute care hospitals2. There is variation in the optimal use of imaging, the appropriate timing and duration of non-operative management attempts, anti-microbial therapies, and the criteria for surgical management, which results in heterogeneity in approaches and outcomes across international clinical centers. The expected number of SBO cases in most clinical centers is predictable, enabling a suitably-sized cohort of patients to be gathered in the snapshot audit. This 'ESTES snapshot audit' -a prospective observational cohort study- has a dual purpose. Firstly, as an epidemiological study, it aims to uncover the burden of disease. Secondly, it aims to demonstrate current strategies employed to diagnose and treat these patients. These twin aims will serve to provide a 'snapshot' of current practice, but will also be hypothesis-generating while providing a rich source of patient-level data to allow further analysis of the particular clinical questions.

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Trial details