Comorbidities and Age Elevate Non-Operative Management Failure in Adhesive Bowel Obstruction

In a substantial analysis of over 1.6 million adhesive small bowel obstruction cases, failure rates for non-operative management soared with increasing age and chronic health issues. Patients over 65 and those with multiple comorbidities faced notably higher risks, with failure rates climbing from 21% in the absence of comorbidities to 26.5% in affected individuals. Surgical intervention was also more common in older patients, underscoring the need for targeted management strategies for this vulnerable population.