Bowel obstructions usually cause cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting and inability to pass bowel motions (faeces or poo) or gas. A bowel obstruction is an emergency and needs treatment in hospital to prevent serious complications. You may need surgery or another procedure to remove the blockage.
Symptoms of bowel obstruction
pain (usually colicky tummy pain) feeling sick. vomiting large amounts (including undigested food or bowel fluid) constipation (shown by not passing wind and no bowel sounds)
Identifying Bowel Obstruction Symptoms
Bowel obstruction symptoms usually come on suddenly, and they are severe — acute pain in the abdomen, along with nausea or vomiting. Most people affected by a bowel obstruction are unable to pass gas or have a bowel movement, and may have a swollen abdomen.
A bowel obstruction can begin suddenly or may progress gradually over several weeks or days. 2 Before a complete bowel obstruction develops, you may experience some warning signs caused by a partial bowel obstruction. Symptoms that often precede a partial or complete bowel obstruction include: Decreased appetite.
Without any fluids (either as sips, ice chips or intravenously) people with a complete bowel obstruction most often survive a week or two. Sometimes it's only a few days, sometimes as long as three weeks. With fluids, survival time may be extended by a few weeks or even a month or two.
Small bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the small intestine, which is a part of the digestive system. Small bowel obstruction can be caused by many things, including adhesions, hernia and inflammatory bowel disorders.
A common type of blockage is called fecal impaction. This is when a large, hard mass of poop gets stuck in your digestive tract and can't get pushed out the usual way. But when your bowel is blocked by something other than hard stool, doctors call it a bowel obstruction.
Your doctor may do: An abdominal X-ray, which can find blockages in the small and large intestines. A CT scan of the belly, which helps your doctor see whether the blockage is partial or complete.
Adhesions: The most common cause for small bowel obstruction is intra-abdominal adhesions. Adhesions caused by abdominal or pelvic surgery cause about 65% to 75% of all small bowel obstructions. Adhesions are scar tissue that can form after infection, radiation therapy, inflammation and most commonly, surgery.
The four cardinal symptoms of bowel obstruction are pain, vomiting, obstipation/absolute constipation, and distention. Obstipation, change in bowel habits, complete constipation, and abdominal distention are the predominant symptoms in LBO.
Olive oil – consuming a teaspoon of olive oil in the morning on an empty stomach can encourage stool to flow through the gut. The oil acts as a lubricant in the digestive system, meaning it's easier for solids to slide through. It also softens up the stool, making it easier to empty your bowels completely.
The surgeon locates the area of your intestine (bowel) that is blocked and unblocks it. Any damaged parts of your bowel will be repaired or removed. This procedure is called bowel resection. If a section is removed, the healthy ends will be reconnected with stitches or staples.
An intestinal obstruction is painful and potentially dangerous, and typically requires hospital care. However, you won't necessarily need surgery. Many blockages can be resolved with a non-invasive procedure, and patients often never have a recurrence.
Large meals can cause more discomfort. Try to have 6-7 small meals or snacks spread out through the day. o Cut foods into small pieces. o Chew foods well and eat slowly. What to eat through the day o Follow a Low Fibre Diet or a Liquid Diet. o Avoid any food that is tough or stringy (celery, tough meats).
Bowel obstructions cause bloating and abdominal pain. The pain may be cramping or colicky, so it starts suddenly and comes and goes in waves. You may not be able to poo or fart (pass gas/wind). If the blockage is only partial, you may have diarrhoea.
However, in some cases a large bowel obstruction can cause sudden constant pain. It depends on what is causing the obstruction. CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Abdominal pain Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
Most of the time, complete blockages require a stay in the hospital and possibly surgery. But if your bowel is only partly blocked, your doctor may tell you to wait until it clears on its own and you are able to pass gas and stool. If so, there are things you can do at home to help make you feel better.
Avoid dried fruits, nuts and seeds. Strain fruit and vegetable juices and soups. Avoid wholegrain, high fibre breads and cereals. Use white varieties where possible.
Avoid high-fiber foods and raw fruits and vegetables. These may cause another blockage. Drinking plenty of water may help. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
Such foods are: • Chocolate • Crisps • Cakes • Ice cream • Custard made with full fat milk and cream • Glasses of full fat milk with added skimmed milk powder • Cream added to desserts • Sugar added to drinks and cereal • Jam, honey and syrup added to foods • Butter added to allowed vegetables • Butter, cream/ ...
Colonic obstruction is most commonly seen in the sigmoid colon.
Potential Complications from a bowel obstruction
A bowel obstruction, whether partial or complete, can lead to serious and life threatening conditions if left untreated. The intestine can get swollen from the trapped air, fluid, and food. This swelling can make the intestine less able to absorb fluid.