• Nathan S Rubalcava, Christina M Bence, Amanda R Jensen, Peter C Minneci, Kyle J Van Arendonk, Grace Mak, Beth A Rymeski, Jonathan E Kohler, Tariku Beyene, Irene Isabel P Lim, Ronald B Hirschl, and K Elizabeth Speck.
• Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Ann. Surg. 2023 Apr 1; 277 (4): e925e932e925-e932.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of a water-soluble contrast challenge as part of a nonoperative management algorithm in children with an adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO).BackgroundPredicting which children will successfully resolve their ASBO with non-operative management at the time of admission remains difficult. Additionally, the safety of a water-soluble contrast challenge for children with ASBO has not been established in the literature.MethodsA retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent non-operative management for an ASBO and received a contrast challenge across 5 children's hospitals between 2012 and 2020. Safety was assessed by comparing the complication rate associated with a contrast challenge against a pre-specified maximum acceptable level of 5%. Sensitivity, specificity, negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values of a contrast challenge to identify successful nonoperative management were calculated.ResultsOf 82 children who received a contrast challenge, 65% were successfully managed nonoperatively. The most common surgical indications were failure of the contrast challenge or failure to progress after initially passing the contrast challenge. There were no complications related to contrast administration (0%; 95% confidence interval: 0-3.6%, P = 0.03). The contrast challenge was highly reliable in determining which patients would require surgery and which could be successfully managed non-operatively (sensitivity 100%, specificity 86%, NPV 100%, PPV 93%).ConclusionA contrast challenge is safe in children with ASBO and has a high predictive value to assist in clinical decision-making.Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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