Small Bowel Obstruction: Likelihood Ratios

Introduction: None written.

The likelihood ratios of findings for Small Bowel Obstruction are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Good Positive and Negative Likelihood Ratios

Finding	+LR	-LR	Comments, Study
Enteroclysis	8.3	0	plain film enteroclysis Study: Radiol Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;41(2):263-83, vi. PMID: 12659338
CT Enteroclysis	inf	0.1	Study: Radiology. 2007 Dec;245(3):661-71. PMID: 18024448
Elevated Serum Lactate	6.9	0.1	for ischemia Study: Am J Surg 1994 Jun;167(6):575-8. PMID 8209931
Abdominal US	inf	0.2	Study: Acta Radiol 1999 Jul;40(4):422-8. PMID 10394872
Abdominal CT Duplicate	3.8	0.2	non-enhanced Study: Eur J Radiol. 2009 Jul;71(1):135-40. PMID 18534800
Abdominal CT Duplicate	3.5	0.2	with IV contrast Study: Eur J Radiol. 2009 Jul;71(1):135-40. PMID 18534800
Clinical diagnosis	75	0.3	Study: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1994 Aug;29(8):715-21 PMID: 7973431
Abdominal Distension	5.8	0.4	for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
History of Abdominal Surgery	2.6	0.4	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Emesis	2.2	0.4	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 CT Duplicate	8.3	0.5	Study: Radiology. 2007 Dec;245(3):661-71. PMID: 18024448
Age	2.2	0.5	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308

Good Negative Likelihood Ratio

1.6

0.5

many sources list sensitivity closer to 50%

Study: Am Surg. 1999 Oct;65(10):922-6. PMID: 10515535

Good Positive Likelihood Ratio

Finding	+LR	-LR	Comments, Study
History of Constipation	8.8	0.6	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Tenderness	5.1	0.7	for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Relief of Pain by Vomiting	4.3	0.8	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Increased Bowel Sounds	3.5	0.7	Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Decreased Bowel Sounds	3.2	0.8	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Colicky Pain	2.9	0.8	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Rigidity	2.7	0.9	for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
Abdominal Mass	2.2	0.9	for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

1.9

0.6

for strangulated SBO

Study: Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(11):850-4. PMID: 18084141

Findings With Unspecified Accuracy

Finding	+LR	-LR	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.