Bowel sounds refer to noises made within the small and large intestines during digestion. Hyperactive bowel sounds are loud and rushed, indicating increased intestinal activity, while hypoactive sounds are softer and more separated, suggesting reduced activity. Absent sounds for more than 3-5 minutes requires immediate reporting as it could signify issues like obstruction or perforation. The document describes common causes of different bowel sound patterns, such as Crohn's disease leading to hyperactive sounds or peritonitis causing hypoactive sounds due to fluid accumulation muffling sounds. Monitoring bowel sounds provides clues to underlying intestinal health issues or blockages.

1. BOWEL
SOUND

2. BOWEL SOUND
 Abdominal (bowel) sounds refer to noises made
within the small and large intestines, typically during
digestion.

3.  TERMS
 Hyperactive bowel sounds --- Loud,
gurgling rushed sounds
 Hypoactive bowel sounds --- Soft, low,
widely separated sounds such as one or
two occurring in two minutes.
 Absent sounds --- when sounds are not
heard for 3-5 minutes of auscultating in
each quadrant.
 Report this immediately as it may be a
complication such as intestinal
obstruction, peritonitis or paralytic ileus,

4. TYPES OF BOWEL SOUND
a) hyperactive bowel sounds typically
indicate an increase in intestinal activity.
b) hypoactive bowel sounds can indicate a
decline in intestinal activity.

5.  If bowel sounds are present with some other
symptoms like, gas, nausea, vomiting, and presence
or absence of bowel movements, then they may
indicate certain underlying diseases or disorders.
 Absence of bowel sounds after a period of
increased bowel sounds, can be a matter of serious
health concern, as it may indicate rupture of the
intestine or necrosis of the bowel tissue.

6. Causes of bowel movement
a) HYPERACTIVE BOWEL SOUND
o Crohn's disease
 where there is idiopathic inflammation of the
gastrointestinal tract.
o Irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis
 leads to an increase in bowel sound.
o food allergy and gastroenteritis may also
 lead to hyperactive sounds emanating from
the bowel.

7. Other causes of hyperactive bowel sound
o Diarrhea
o GI bleeding
o Infectious enteritis

8. b) HYPOACTIVE BOWEL SOUND
o Peritonitis
 in which there is inflammation of the peritoneum.
Here, due to the inflammation, there may be
accumulation of slight fluid in the abdomen so the
abdominal sounds are not heard as clearly over it.
o Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal
region(ascites)
 Due to the presence of this fluid, the abdominal
sounds get muffled and so, seem to be hypoactive.
o Obstruction to flow of food, in the form of intestinal
blockage or gastroparesis, then it leads to
hypoactive sounds of bowel
o Drugs that reduce intestinal movements such as
opiates (including codeine), anticholinergics, and
phenothiazines

9.  Other causes of hypoactive bowel sound
o General anesthesia
o Radiation to the abdomen
o Spinal anesthesia
o Surgery in the abdomen