Conservative management of small bowel obstruction.

Intestinal Cantor tubes were used in the management of 69 gynecologic patients with pelvic malignancies who presented with small bowel obstruction. Small bowel obstruction was secondary to radiation injury, persistent or recurrent carcinoma, or postoperative adhesions. Thirty-one patients (45%) in this series had successful resolution of their small bowel obstruction with a Cantor tube, including 12 of 14 patients (86%) with postoperative adhesions. Complete obstruction of the small bowel was the only prognostic factor definitely associated with tube failure. Seventy percent of all patients had successful passage of the tube on one attempt, and no major complications were encountered. The Cantor tube has proved to be safe, effective, and easy to use, and guidelines for the management of it are included. Cantor tube decompression should be considered in the initial management of small bowel obstruction, since a significant percentage of the patients with this condition will not require surgical intervention.