Small bowel obstruction in pregnancy. A review and report of four cases.

Four gravid patients with small bowel obstruction secondary to adhesions were seen during a 17-year span (1955 through 1971) at the Mayo Clinic. Three of these patients had been referred to us for definitive diagnosis and treatment. During the time span under investigation, there were 25,189 deliveries at our institution. As the incidence of surgical procedures increases, small bowel obstruction is likely to be seen more frequently. One must consider this diagnosis in any pregnant patient with an abdominal scar and the characteristic signs and symptoms of obstruction. When mechanical intestinal obstruction has been diagnosed, the recommended treatment is surgery regardless of the gestational age or status of the fetus.