Intestinal obstruction or bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the intestine or bowel that prevents intestinal content from passing through. To know Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction, visit at http://gisurgery.info

1. Intestinal Obstruction
Introduction
Intestinal obstruction or bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of
the intestine or bowel that prevents intestinal content from passing through.
The obstruction could be a mechanical or functional in nature. An untreated
intestinal obstruction can be fatal.
Signs & Symptoms
Intestinal obstruction can cause wide spectrum of uncomfortable symptoms
such as:
• Abdominal pain
• Severe bloating
• Severe abdominal cramps
• Abdominal swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• High fever
Causes
Intestinal obstruction can be caused by something blocking part of the
intestine (mechanical) or malfunctioning of the intestine (functional). Sometime
after surgery fibrous band of tissues are formed in the abdomen which causes
adhesions and blocks the natural passage. Inflamed or infected pouches in the
intestine known as diverticulitis, hernias and tumors can also cause blockage of
intestinal passage.
Various causes of intestinal obstruction include:
• Adhesions: band of fibrous tissue in the abdominal cavity causes intestinal
adhesions
• Colon cancer: Tumors in the intestine
• Volvulus: twisting of the small intestine
• Hernia: portions of intestine protrude into another part of the body
• Inflammatory disease like crohn’s disease: swelling and scar tissue causes a
narrowing of the intestine
• Severe constipation leads to impacted bowel
Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti Gisurgery.info

2. • Paralytic ileus: intestine temporarily ceases contracting and moving its
contents along
• Intusscuception: one section of intestine collapses into another
• Ingestion of foreign objects
• Strangulation: decreased blood flow to the intestines usually due to birth
defect
• Stricture and inflammation causes narrowing of intestine
Risk Factors
• Abdominal or pelvic surgery
• Inflammatory disease like crohn’s disease
• Abdominal tumors
Complications
• Infection in the abdominal cavity known as peritonitis
• Intestinal obstruction can cut off blood supply to certain part of the intestine
which causes the intestinal tissues to die this will result in perforation and can
lead to infection
Diagnosis
Abdominal X-ray: In this procedure you have to swallow a contrast liquid and
the x-ray technician visualizes the intestinal tract to look for obstruction.
Abdominal CT scan: this test help determine if the obstruction is partial or
complete and whether it is mechanical or functional obstruction.
Physical examination: to look for swollen or tender abdomen or if there is a
lump in abdomen associated with the signs and symptoms of intestinal
obstruction. Typical abdominal sound of obstruction can be heard using
stethoscope.
Colonoscopy: if the obstruction is located in large intestine colonoscopy can
be performed to inspect the large intestine.
Treatment
Intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency and requires prompt medical
treatment. Appropriate treatment depends on the type and location of
obstruction however most intestinal obstructions require surgery.
Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti Gisurgery.info