Epidemiology

In a study conducted by Soressa, U., Mamo, A., Hiko, D. et al. on Prevalence, causes and management outcome of intestinal obstruction in Adama Hospital, Ethiopia in 2016, the prevalence of intestinal obstruction was found to be 21.8 % and 4.8 % among patients admitted for acute abdomen surgery and total surgical admissions, respectively.

Small intestinal obstructions are more common than large intestinal obstructions (LBOs) and are the most frequent indication for surgery on the small intestines.