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Table 2 Procedures for the evaluation and treatment of bowel obstruction

From: Bowel obstruction: a narrative review for all physicians

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

Plain abdominal X-ray

Availability

No etiologic diagnosis

Computed tomography scan

Etiologic diagnosis

Ionizing radiations exposure

Endoscopy (large bowel obstruction only)

Endoscopic treatment

Perforation risk

Conservative treatment

Fast recovery

Failure, complications, recurrence

Surgery

Etiologic treatment

Complications, stoma risk, recurrence