Retrospective Analysis of Vomiting Characteristics and Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Intestinal Obstruction

Houhong Wang

Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Bozhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China

^*Correspondance to: Houhong Wang 

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Abstract:

Background: Intestinal obstruction in elderly patients is often accompanied by vomiting, presenting unique clinical challenges. The characteristics of vomiting in this population and their associations with disease severity and prognosis remain unclear. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the vomiting features in elderly patients with intestinal obstruction and explore their relationships with etiology, disease progression, and treatment outcomes. Methods: Data from 90 elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) diagnosed with intestinal obstruction and admitted to a single tertiary hospital between 2021 and 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Information regarding vomiting frequency, content, onset time, associated symptoms, comorbidities, treatment methods, and outcomes was collected. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify correlations between vomiting characteristics and other clinical variables. Results: Vomiting occurred in 82.2% (74/90) of elderly patients. Patients with strangulated obstruction had significantly higher vomiting frequencies (mean 5.8 ± 1.6 times/day) compared to those with simple obstruction (2.3 ± 1.1 times/day, p < 0.001). Feculent vomiting was more prevalent in patients with colorectal cancer - related obstruction (21.4%, 6/28) than in other etiological groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that feculent vomiting (OR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.3 - 12.8, p = 0.017), high vomiting frequency (≥5 times/day, OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4 - 7.8, p = 0.006), and the presence of ≥3 comorbidities (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.2 - 7.1, p = 0.023) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis. Conclusion: Vomiting characteristics in elderly patients with intestinal obstruction are closely related to disease severity and prognosis. Recognizing these features can assist in early risk assessment and guide personalized treatment strategies for this vulnerable population.

Keywords:

Elderly patients; Intestinal obstruction; Vomiting; Comorbidities; Prognosis; Retrospective analysis

Cite the Article:

Houhong Wang. Retrospective Analysis of Vomiting Characteristics and Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Intestinal Obstruction. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2025; 10: 2753..