Intussusception is a rare cause of bowel obstruction in adults, accounting for less than 1% of obstructions and 5% of total intussusception cases. Symptoms are nonspecific, often chronic or subacute, and include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and blood per rectum.
A small bowel obstruction is a blockage in the small intestine. Small bowel obstructions are usually caused by scar tissue, hernia, or cancer.
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. Hernias — portions of intestine that protrude into another part of your body. Colon cancer.
About bowel obstruction
Bowel obstruction can happen when: cancer in the abdominal area (such as ovarian, bowel or stomach cancer) presses on the bowel. other cancers (such as lung or breast cancer) spread to the abdomen and press on the bowel.
Most patients with SBO are treated successfully with nasogastric tube decompression. However, the mortality of SBO ranges from 2% to 8% and may increase to as high as 25% if bowel ischemia is present and there is a delay in surgical management (2–5).
Potential Complications from a bowel obstruction
This leads to dehydration and kidney failure. Nausea and vomiting will also cause dehydration. Excess swelling of the intestine can cause the intestine to rupture or burst. A ruptured intestine can lead to peritonitis, or a severe infection in the abdominal cavity.
(See "Management of small bowel obstruction in adults" and "Large bowel obstruction".) Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is common in patients with abdominal or pelvic cancers. It is most prevalent in ovarian cancer (5.5 to 42.0 percent), colorectal cancer (4.4 to 24.0 percent), and gastric cancer [2].
A bowel obstruction can either be a mechanical or functional obstruction of the small or large intestines. Obstruction frequently causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, obstipation, and distention.
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.
Paralytic ileus, also called pseudo-obstruction, is one of the major causes of intestinal obstruction in infants and children. Causes of paralytic ileus may include: Bacteria or viruses that cause intestinal infections (gastroenteritis)
Strangulation is the most lethal complication of small bowel obstruction and can be present without peritoneal signs on examination. Adequate resuscitation, early surgical consultation for impending strangulation, GI decompression, and symptomatic control are the mainstays of therapy.
Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction often causes symptoms after meals. Symptoms may be long-lasting or may come and go over time. Symptoms may be more severe at times, called acute episodes, and milder between these episodes.
The most common bacteria cultured from the MLNs was Escherichia coli. Thus, it appeared that simple intestinal obstruction of the colon or small bowel in the absence of necrotic bowel was associated with bacterial translocation. 1. 2.
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.
It could be caused by multiple factors, especially in the context of palliative care. Common symptoms are nausea and vomiting, crampy abdominal pain or discomfort, stomach distention, constipation and inability to pass gas (fart).
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.
Most patients stay in the hospital for between five and seven days following bowel obstruction surgery. It can take several weeks or months to fully return to normal activities.
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.
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.
Chew foods well. Eat in a relaxed setting and eat slowly. Eat smaller amounts of food more often throughout the day. Drink 2000 to 2500 mL (8 to 10 cups) of fluids every day.
Patients with previous abdominal or pelvic surgical procedures, including cesarian delivery, and pelvic inflammatory disease are at increased risk of intestinal obstruction secondary to adhesions. Intestinal obstruction occurs most commonly in the third trimester.