Elective laparoscopy for small bowel obstruction.

We performed elective laparoscopic adhesiolysis in 21 patients with small bowel obstruction. The procedure was completely laparoscopic or laparoscopy assisted in 17 patients, but 4 patients required full laparotomy due to internal hernia in 2, perforation of the small bowel associated with dense adhesions in 1, and carcinoma of the cecum in 1. In patients with a laparoscopic or laparoscopy-assisted procedure, the mean operating time, mean time until the return of bowel function, and mean postoperative stay were 94 minutes, 3.3 days, and 9.9 days, respectively. During follow-up for 14 to 44 months, 3 patients developed recurrent obstruction, 1 patient suffered from catheter-induced thrombosis, and 1 patient died from lung cancer. Elective laparoscopy can be performed safely and effectively in selected patients with intermittent small bowel obstruction.