Comparison of Outcomes of Management of Bowel Obstruction

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults ≥18 years of age recruited from UWMC
* Patients presenting to surgical services through the Emergency Department, diagnosis of SBO, consulted by surgeon, and an urgent or emergency operation is deemed not necessary by surgeon.
* Diagnosis of aSBO is established by;

  1. CT findings consistent with diagnosis of SBO; and
  2. signs and symptoms consistent with SBO; and
  3. Adhesions from prior abdominopelvic surgery are the likely cause of SBO (absence of incarcerated hernia, internal hernia, masses, fistula, stricture, volvulus, acute episode of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare, etc.).
* Ability to provide written or electronic informed consent in English and answer teach-back questions

Exclusion Criteria:

* Signs and symptoms of peritonitis with emergency operation planned
* Planned urgent operation within the next 12 hours
* Allergy to dexamethasone
* Surgery within prior 6 weeks
* Unable or unwilling to return or be contacted for and/or complete research surveys
* Currently incarcerated in a detention facility or in police custody (patients wearing a monitoring device can be enrolled) at baseline/screening
* Individuals with latent infections who have an increased risk of infection.