The diagnosis and medical treatment of acute intestinal obstruction / by Reginald H. Fitz.

  • Fitz, Reginald H. (Reginald Heber), 1843-1913.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diagnosis and medical treatment of acute intestinal obstruction / by Reginald H. Fitz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    was used on the first day in ten cases, on the second day in seven, on the third in four, on the fourth in one, and on a date not given in eleven cases. The inference from these figures is that the successful use of inflation or injection may take place on the fourth day, but is most likely to occur during the first two days. The unsuccessful use of the above treatment resulted, in eleven cases : in two on the first day, three on the second, four on the third, and in one on the fourth and fifth days respectively. Certain of these failures are due to an insufficient pressure, for after death, in these, the intussusception was easily reduced. In other cases the tumors returned, or the symptoms were not relieved. In such the tumors may not have been wholly reduced at the time of treatment. The inference is direct from the consideration of these tables showing the effect of medical treatment, that if the latter does not overcome the obstruction within the first two, possibly three, days, aid should be sought from the surgeon. Relief, by injection or inflation, from obstruction due to a twist is of very unlikely occurrence. There is no exact evidence on this point. As in intussusception so in twist: if no relief follows inflation or injection on the second or third day, the aid of the surgeon should be sought. The surgeon’s knife offers the only hope of cure from strangulation. In the medical treatment of obstruction from gall-stones, it is to be remembered that in the cases here collected a fatal result followed all