Malnutrition, nutritional interventions and clinical outcomes of patients with acute small bowel obstruction: results from a national, multicentre, prospective audit

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of patients presenting with small bowel obstruction (SBO), along with associated nutritional interventions and clinical outcomes.DesignProspective cohort study.Setting131 UK hospitals with acute surgical services.Participants2069 adult patients with a diagnosis of SBO were included in this study. The mean age was 67.0 years and 54.7% were female.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes recorded included: major complications (composite of in-hospital mortality, reoperation, unplanned intensive care admission and 30-day readmission), complications arising from surgery (anastomotic leak, wound dehiscence), infection (pneumonia, surgical site infection, intra-abdominal infection, urinary tract infection, venous catheter infection), cardiac complications, venous thromboembolism and delirium.ResultsPostoperative adhesions were the most common cause of SBO (49.1%). Early surgery (