Small Bowel Obstruction: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: None written.

[Edit Diagnosis] [Merge dx] [Add prevalence]

Tags: Gastrointestinal Problem Tag this Diagnosis.

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

Pre-Test Probability (Prevalence): %.	Post-Test Probability (Predictive Value): %.	Switch to display mode.
Note that calculating probabilities from more than one** finding is inherently inaccurate because findings are not independent. (For example, using two positive findings that share a common pathogenesis is likely to overestimate the true probability.)


Finding	Result	Sensitivity	Specificity
[ + ] Abdominal CT	+ 0 -	50%	94%
Study: Radiology. 2007 Dec;245(3):661-71. PMID: 18024448
[ + ] Abdominal CT	+ 0 -	88.1%	77%
non-enhanced Study: Eur J Radiol. 2009 Jul;71(1):135-40. PMID 18534800
[ + ] Abdominal CT	+ 0 -	87.6%	75%
with IV contrast Study: Eur J Radiol. 2009 Jul;71(1):135-40. PMID 18534800
[ + ] Abdominal Distension	+ 0 -	62.5%	89.2%
for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Abdominal Mass	+ 0 -	18.8%	91.4%
for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Abdominal Rigidity	+ 0 -	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 Tenderness	+ 0 -	35.4%	93.1%
for SBO as final diagnosis of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Abdominal US	+ 0 -	83%	100%
Study: Acta Radiol 1999 Jul;40(4):422-8. PMID 10394872
[ + ] Abdominal X-Ray	+ 0 -	75%	53%
many sources list sensitivity closer to 50% Study: Am Surg. 1999 Oct;65(10):922-6. PMID: 10515535
[ + ] Age	+ 0 -	60.4%	73.1%
for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Clinical diagnosis	+ 0 -	75%	99%
Study: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1994 Aug;29(8):715-21 PMID: 7973431
[ + ] Colicky Pain	+ 0 -	31.2%	89.4%
for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] CT Enteroclysis	+ 0 -	89%	100%
Study: Radiology. 2007 Dec;245(3):661-71. PMID: 18024448
[ + ] Decreased Bowel Sounds	+ 0 -	22.9%	92.8%
for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Elevated D-dimer	+ 0 -	60%	68%
for strangulated SBO Study: Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(11):850-4. PMID: 18084141
[ + ] Elevated Serum Amylase		No accuracy specified.
Study: no study specified.
[ + ] Elevated Serum Lactate	+ 0 -	90%	87%
for ischemia Study: Am J Surg 1994 Jun;167(6):575-8. PMID 8209931
[ + ] Emesis	+ 0 -	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
[ + ] Enteroclysis	+ 0 -	100%	88%
plain film enteroclysis Study: Radiol Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;41(2):263-83, vi. PMID: 12659338
[ + ] hearing loss		No accuracy specified.
Study: no study specified.
[ + ] History of Abdominal Surgery	+ 0 -	68.8%	74%
for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] History of Constipation	+ 0 -	43.8%	95%
for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Increased Bowel Sounds	+ 0 -	39.6%	88.6%
Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Leukocytosis		No accuracy specified.
Study: no study specified.
[ + ] Relief of Pain by Vomiting	+ 0 -	27.1%	93.7%
for SBO as final dx of abdominal pain Study: Eur J Surg. 1998 Oct;164(10):777-84. PMID: 9840308
[ + ] Tachycardia		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.