Small Bowel Obstruction: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: None written.

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Small Bowel Obstruction are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Sensitive and Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
CT Enteroclysis	89%	100%	Study: Radiology. 2007 Dec;245(3):661-71. PMID: 18024448
Enteroclysis	100%	88%	plain film enteroclysis Study: Radiol Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;41(2):263-83, vi. PMID: 12659338
Elevated Serum Lactate	90%	87%	for ischemia Study: Am J Surg 1994 Jun;167(6):575-8. PMID 8209931

Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Abdominal US	83%	100%	Study: Acta Radiol 1999 Jul;40(4):422-8. PMID 10394872
Clinical diagnosis	75%	99%	Study: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1994 Aug;29(8):715-21 PMID: 7973431
History of Constipation	43.8%	95%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Rigidity	14.6%	94.6%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal CT Duplicate	50%	94%	Study: Radiology. 2007 Dec;245(3):661-71. PMID: 18024448
Relief of Pain by Vomiting	27.1%	93.7%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Tenderness	35.4%	93.1%	for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Decreased Bowel Sounds	22.9%	92.8%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Mass	18.8%	91.4%	for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Colicky Pain	31.2%	89.4%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Distension	62.5%	89.2%	for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Increased Bowel Sounds	39.6%	88.6%	Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308

Sensitive Findings

88.1%

77%

non-enhanced

Study: Eur J Radiol. 2009 Jul;71(1):135-40. PMID 18534800

87.6%

75%

with IV contrast

Study: Eur J Radiol. 2009 Jul;71(1):135-40. PMID 18534800

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
History of Abdominal Surgery	68.8%	74%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Age	60.4%	73.1%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Elevated D-dimer	60%	68%	for strangulated SBO Study: Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(11):850-4. PMID: 18084141
Emesis	75%	65.3%	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Emesis is more common in proximal small bowel obstruction than in distal small bowel obstruction Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal X-Ray	75%	53%	many sources list sensitivity closer to 50% Study: Am Surg. 1999 Oct;65(10):922-6. PMID: 10515535

Findings With Unspecified Accuracy

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Elevated Serum Amylase	No accuracy specified.		Study: no study specified.
hearing loss	No accuracy specified.		Study: no study specified.
Tachycardia	No accuracy specified.		Study: no study specified.
Leukocytosis	No accuracy specified.		Study: no study specified.
UGI/SBFT	No accuracy specified.		An upper GI and small bowel follow-through can differentiate between mechanical obstruction and an ileus Study: no study specified.