Newly designed coil tube for bowel decompression in patients with small bowel obstructions

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate a coil tube that we recently designed for bowel decompression in patients with a small bowel obstruction.MethodsThe coil tube was composed of a stainless steel coil, a polyolefin tube, and a rubber adaptor. The tube was inserted under fluoroscopic guidance in 14 consecutive patients with small bowel obstructions. Technical success was defined as insertion of the distal end of the tube into at least the proximal jejunum, and clinical success was defined as intestinal decompression and relief of obstructive symptoms.ResultsThe technical success rate was 100%. Clinical success was achieved in 12 patients (86%). The clinical failures were a patient with peritoneal carcinomatosis and an ileocolic fistula, and a patient with bezoars following intestinal hemorrhage. No coil-related complications occurred.ConclusionOur newly designed coil tube was safe and effective in patients with bowel decompression associated with a small bowel obstruction. In addition, our tube has several advantages over other currently used tube types.