Utility of RDW in Prediction of Strangulation in Emergency Setting Hernias

Most of the small bowel obstruction cases are due to adhesions and hernias. Identifying strangulated cases may save patients from consequences of unnecessary operations and save patients who need urgent intervention by early detection. Serum markers of intestinal ischemia may help to identify and detect strangulation. The aim of this study was to identify if certain blood values such as RDW can accurately predict presence of strangulation preoperatively. We reviewed files of 127 patients who were operated because of incarcerated abdominal hernias for serum biomarkers and evaluated them with the operative findings. Our results show that elevation in red cell distribution width and white blood cell count may reflect strangulation. These findings may be useful in identifying the strangulated cases that need urgent surgical intervention.