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Clinical Application of Artificial Pneumoperitoneum and Gastrointestinal Contrast CT Imaging in Diagnosis of Abdominal Wall Adhesion to Intestine after Operation

ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and safety of the artificial pneumoperitoneum and gastrointestinal contrast CT imaging, and imaging diagnostic value on abdominal wall adhesion to intestine after operation. MethodsThirtynine patients with adhesive intestinal obstruction after operation relieved by conservative therapy were included from January 2008 to November 2009. After the artificial pneumoperitoneum established by injection of gas into abdominal cavity and gastrointestinal comparison by oral administration low concentration of meglucamine diatrizoate, CT scan imaging was performed and the radiographic results were compared with surgical findings. ResultsFour patients refused surgery and discharged, so enterolysis was performed in the remaining patients. The surgical findings were consistent with radiographic results. It was showed by laparoscopic operation that intestinal obstruction caused by the fibrous adhesions and the intestine did not adhere to the abdominal wall in eight patients with fibrous adhesion diagnosed by CT. Of eighteen patients with the abdominal wall septally adhered to the intestinal, the surgical findings showed the intestine and the abdominal wall formed “M”type adhesions and omentum adhesions in sixteen patients underwent open operation, and clear fat space was showed in eight patients and close adhesion was found in another eight patients between the intestine and abdominal wall. Of thirteen patients with the abdominal wall tentiformly adhered to the intestinal, the surgical findings showed the intestine and the abdominal wall formed continuous and tentiform adhesions and omentum adhesions to the intestine in eleven patients. After the followup of 6-18 months (mean 9 months), incomplete intestinal obstruction occurred in one patient and was relieved by conservative treatment. One patient with discontinuous discomfort in abdomen after operation did not receive any treatment. The other patients were cured. ConclusionThe artificial pneumoperitoneum and gastrointestinal contrast CT imaging can accurately show the location, area, and structure composition of the postoperative abdominal wall adhesion to intestine, which is safety, simple, and bly repeatable, and a better imaging method for the diagnosing of abdominal wall adhesion to intestine after operation.