Table 1.

Overview of known and unknown facts concerning small bowel obstruction in elderly patients

What this paper adds  • Adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for the largest group of SBO. Malignant small bowel obstruction, gall stone ileus and hernia incarceration are more prevalent in elderly patients  • Symptom presentation is otypical in elderly patients  • CT scan is highly sensitive and specific, and unenhanced CT is a safe method for diagnostics  • Frail elderly patients have more morbidity, mortality and functional decline  • A comprehensive geriatric approach, including patients’ preference is preferable.  • Applied waiting period to surgery might be too long in older patients with SBO

What is not known?  • Functional outcomes of elderly patients after SBO  • Optimal ‘safe’ time to wait for resolution of SBO by conservative therapy  • Influence of frailty on outcomes in SBO