Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Small bowel obstruction (SBO) represents roughly 15% of admissions by general surgeons. Management of SBO relies heavily on provider judgment, including decisions on how long to try nonsurgical management and whether to use a laparoscopic or open approach when surgery is needed. Given the subjective nature of these decisions, it is unknown if patient race influences management of SBO. ⋯ Clinical decisions regarding SBO management differ based on patient race. Future studies focusing on the surgical decision-making process and the influence of bias are needed.