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.
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.
In some cases, intestinal obstruction can cause serious and debilitating acute abdominal pain. If you experience sudden, severe abdominal pain in addition to any of the above symptoms, seek emergency medical attention, immediately, by calling 911 or visiting an Emergency Room.
Symptoms of an intestinal blockage include severe belly pain or cramping, vomiting, not being able to pass stool or gas, and other signs of belly distress.
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)
You may notice: cramping or abdominal pain, especially in your upper abdomen and around your belly button. inability to pass gas or bowel motions. vomiting.
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 will ask you questions about your symptoms, other digestive problems you've had, and any surgeries or procedures you've had in that area. He or she will check your belly for tenderness and bloating. Your doctor may do: An abdominal X-ray, which can find blockages in the small and large intestines.
Your doctor may recommend a special low-fiber diet that is easier for your partially blocked intestine to process. If the obstruction does not clear on its own, you may need surgery to relieve the obstruction.
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction include: Crampy abdominal pain that comes and goes.
There are many common causes and risk factors, including: Adhesions: These are bands of scar tissue that may form after abdominal or pelvic surgery. An earlier abdominal surgery is the leading risk factor for small bowel obstruction in the United States.
• How to eat through the day
o Eat or drink small amounts every 2 hours. 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.
When an obstruction is total and caused by a physical blockage, you will likely be unable to pass even gas through your anus. You may burp or vomit, but you will not have diarrhea or gas. Some of the most common reasons we see for bowel obstructions in our practice include: Impacted stool that causes a blockage.
While CT and plain X-ray are typically the most appropriate initial imaging modalities for patients with suspected bowel obstruction, contrast imaging/fluoroscopy studies are important common adjuncts that can help clarify specific clinical questions and guide therapeutic intervention.
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.
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. Your doctor may ask that you drink high-calorie liquid formulas if your symptoms require them.
The four cardinal symptoms of bowel obstruction are pain, vomiting, obstipation/absolute constipation, and distention.
The rule of 3-6-9-12 for bowel obstruction
The small bowel is normally <3cm in diameter. If it is >6cm it is at high risk of rupture. The large bowel is normally <6cm in diameter. If it is >9cm it is at high risk of rupture.
Identifying Bowel Obstruction Symptoms
Most people affected by a bowel obstruction are unable to pass gas or have a bowel movement, and may have a swollen abdomen. Infrequent bowel movements or hard stools usually do not indicate obstruction.
A large bowel obstruction is a medical emergency. It requires hospitalization. Partial bowel obstructions, especially those due to scarring or adhesions, may clear up without much medical help.