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World Journal of Emergency Surgery
Published in: World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Small bowel obstruction in the elderly: a plea for comprehensive acute geriatric care

Authors: Ekin Ozturk, Marianne van Iersel, Martijn MWJ Stommel, Yvonne Schoon, Richard RPG ten Broek, Harry van Goor

Published in: World Journal of Emergency Surgery | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Small bowel obstruction is one of the most frequent emergencies in general surgery, commonly affecting elderly patients. Morbidity and mortality from small bowel obstruction in elderly is high. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and management of bowel obstruction in recent years. But little is known whether this progress has benefitted outcomes in elderly patients, particularly those who are frail or have a malignancy as cause of the obstruction, and when considering quality of life and functioning as outcomes. In this review, we discuss the specific challenges and needs of elderly in diagnosis and treatment of small bowel obstruction. We address quality of life aspects and explore how the concept of geriatric assessment can be utilized to improve decision-making and outcomes for elderly patients with a small bowel obstruction.
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Metadata
Title
Small bowel obstruction in the elderly: a plea for comprehensive acute geriatric care
Authors
Ekin Ozturk
Marianne van Iersel
Martijn MWJ Stommel
Yvonne Schoon
Richard RPG ten Broek
Harry van Goor
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
World Journal of Emergency Surgery / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1749-7922
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-018-0208-z

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