CT analysis of intestinal obstruction due to adhesions: early detection of strangulation.

We evaluated the CT of intestinal obstruction due to adhesions in 20 postoperative patients, with emphasis on early detection of strangulation. Ten patients with surgically proven strangulated obstruction (strangulation group) were compared with another ten patients (nonstrangulation group) in whom seven improved with conservative management and three had confirmed simple obstruction on surgical exploration. Beak-like luminal narrowing ("beak") was the most common CT finding at the obstructed site in both groups. The CT findings that suggested strangulated obstruction were serrated beaks, mesenteric edema or vascular engorgement, and moderate to severe bowel wall thickening. In contrast, simple obstruction could be assumed when the beak was smooth, there were no mesenteric changes, and the bowel wall was normal or mildly thickened. Computed tomography is a useful tool for detecting strangulation in patients with postoperative adhesive intestinal obstruction.