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Abstract

Introduction: With the ongoing developments in imaging techniques overtime, computed tomography (CT) has emerged as an excellent modality in the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. CT scan not only reliably diagnoses intestinal obstruction but can also be of great help in determining the cause, severity, and the precise point of obstruction. Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of multi-detector computed tomography scan in diagnosing intestinal obstruction, taking operative findings as gold standard. Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional. Study duration: 31st October 2023 to 30th June 2024. Settings: Department of Radiology, ,Balochistan institute of nephron-urology  Quetta. Materials & Methods: A total of 301 patients with suspected intestinal obstruction, 25-65 years of age of both genders were included. Patients already operated for intestinal obstruction, allergy to contrast agents, pregnant females, CRF and CLD were excluded. Computed Tomography was performed on Toshiba Aquilion Multislice CT scanner before and after intravenous contrast administration. Each CT scan findings were interpreted by one consultant radiologist in order to control the bias and look for intestinal obstruction. MDCT scan findings were compared with operative findings. Results: In MDCT positive patients, 166 (True Positive) had intestinal obstruction and 06 (False Positive) had no intestinal obstruction on operation. Among 129, MDCT negative patients, 10 (False Negative) had intestinal obstruction on operative findings whereas 119 (True Negative) had no intestinal obstruction on operative findings (p=0.0001). Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of multi-detector computed tomography scan in diagnosing intestinal obstruction, taking operative findings as gold standard was 94.32%, 95.20%, 96.51%, 92.25% and 94.68% respectively.  Conclusion: This study concluded that multi-detector computed tomography scan is a highly sensitive and accurate non-invasive modality in detecting intestinal obstruction.