Bowel obstruction, also called intestinal obstruction, is a mechanical or functional obstruction of this intestines which prevents the normal motion of these products of digestion. Either the little intestine or large intestine could possibly be impacted. Signs and symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, bloating, rather than passing gas. Mechanical obstruction is the cause of about 5 to 15% of cases of severe abdominal pain of sudden onset requiring admission to hospital.
Causes of bowel obstruction include adhesions, hernias, volvulus, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis, tumors, diverticulitis, ischemic bowel, tuberculosis, and intussusception. Small bowel obstructions are most often because of adhesions and hernias while big bowel obstructions are most often because of tumors and volvulus. The diagnosis could be made on plain X-raysnonetheless, CT scan is significantly more precise. Ultrasound or MRI can assist in the identification of kids or pregnant women.
The condition could be treated conservatively or using operation. Typically intravenous fluids are awarded, a tubing is placed through the nose to the stomach to decompress the intestines, and pain medicines are awarded. [two]Antibiotics are usually given. In small intestine obstruction about 25% need operation. Infection could include sepsis, gut ischemia, and gut perforation.
Intestinal obstruction is a blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through your small intestine or large intestine (colon). Causes of intestinal obstruction may include fibrous bands of tissue (adhesions) in the abdomen that form after surgery, an inflamed intestine (Crohn’s disease), infected pouches in your intestine (diverticulitis), hernias and colon cancer.
Without treatment, the blocked parts of the intestine can die, leading to serious problems. However, with prompt medical care, intestinal obstruction often can be successfully treated.
Symptoms of intestinal obstruction
- Vomiting
- Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Crampy abdominal pain that comes and goes
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
Causes
The most common causes of intestinal obstruction in adults are:
- Intestinal adhesions — bands of fibrous tissue in the abdominal cavity that can form after abdominal or pelvic surgery
- Colon cancer
In children, the most common cause of intestinal obstruction is telescoping of the intestine (intussusception).
Other possible causes of intestinal obstruction include:
- Hernias — portions of intestine that protrude into another part of your body
- Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease
- Diverticulitis — a condition in which small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in the digestive tract become inflamed or infected
- Twisting of the colon (volvulus)
- Impacted feces
