Intestinal obstruction occurs when the bowel is partially or completely blocked, preventing contents from passing through. Mechanical obstructions are the most common cause and involve physical blockages from sources like adhesions, tumors, or hernias. Symptoms include abdominal pain, swelling, and inability to pass gas or stool. Diagnosis involves medical history, physical exam, imaging tests, and endoscopy. Treatment depends on the severity and cause but may include IV fluids, nasogastric tubes, surgery to remove the obstruction, or stents to open the blocked area. Complications can arise if an obstruction is not treated.

1. Intestinal obstruction

2. Intestinal obstruction and Ileus
 Intestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage
of the bowel. The contents of the intestine cannot pass
through it.
Alternative Names
 Paralytic ileus; Intestinal volvulus; Bowel obstruction;
Ileus; Pseudo-obstruction - intestinal; Colonic ileus;
Small bowel obstruction

3. Etiology
 Mechanical obstructions
 Mechanical obstructions are something physically blocks your
intestine, this can be due to:
 adhesions, which consist of fibrous tissue that can develop after any
abdominal or pelvic surgery or after severe inflammation
 volvulus, or twisting of the intestines
 intussusception, a “telescoping,” or pushing, of one segment of
intestine into the next section
 malformations of the intestine, often in newborns, but can also occur
in children and teens
 tumors within your small intestine
 gallstones, although they rarely cause obstructions
 swallowed objects, especially in children
 hernias, which involve a portion of your intestine protruding outside
of your body or into another part of your body
 inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease

4.  Although less common, mechanical obstructions can also
block your colon, or large intestine. This can be due to:
 impacted stool
 adhesions from pelvic infections or surgeries
 ovarian cancer
 colon cancer
 meconium plug in newborns (meconium being the stool
babies first pass)
 volvulus and intussusception
 diverticulitis, the inflammation or infection of bulging
pouches of intestine
 stricture, a narrowing in the colon caused by scarring or
inflammation

6. Signs and Symptoms
may include:
 Abdominal swelling (distention)
 Abdominal fullness,
 Abdominal pain and cramping
 Constipation
 Diarrhea
 Inability to pass flatus
 Loss of appetite
 Nausea,
 Vomiting

7. Diagnostic evaluation
 History collection
 Physical examination
 Blood investigation including blood counts,
electrolytes
 Abdominal CT scan
 Abdominal x-ray
 colonoscopy
 Barium enema
 USG

8.  Treatment
 Placing an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your
arm so that fluids can be given
 Putting a nasogastric (NG) tube through your nose
and into your stomach to suck out air and fluid and
relieve abdominal swelling
 Placing a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into your
bladder to drain urine and collect it for testing

9. Treatment
 Treating intussusceptions: A barium or air enema is
known to treat intussusceptions along with its use in
diagnosis, in some cases it clears the obstruction and
no further treatment is required.
 Treatment for partial obstruction: The doctor may
advice special low fiber diet in case of partial
obstruction and wait for the obstruction to get cleared.
However, the doctor may plan surgery if the
obstruction persists.

10. Treatment for complete obstruction
 Surgical treatment: It involves surgical removal of
the obstruction along with any section of intestine that
is damaged.
 Stents: Surgery maybe risky in some people, in such
cases stents are the choice of treatment. The
obstruction is treated with a self-expanding metal
stent. The wire mesh tube is inserted from the
patient’s mouth in to colon via an endoscope which
forces the colon to open and clear obstruction.


11. Possible Complications
 Complications may include or may lead to:
 Electrolyte (blood chemical and mineral) imbalances
 Dehydration
 Hole (perforation) in the intestine
 Infection

12. Prevention
 Prevention depends on the cause. Treating conditions,
such as tumors and hernias that can lead to a
blockage, may reduce your risk.
 Some causes of obstruction cannot be prevented.