Bowel Obstruction

What is it?

When there is a blockage in a bowel, it prevents keeps food or liquid from passing through your small intestine or large intestine (colon).

This must be resolved as it could lead to a bowel tear.

Cause

Syndromes

Source: Alamy

Source: Pinterest- picture 1: Hernia- intestine poke out of skin , Picture 2: Scarred tissue of bowels hence not stretchy and difficult to let faeces/and/or undigested food through, Picture 3: Blockage of bowels due to walls folds on each making the bowels pathway smaller, Picture 4: Bowels twist and become narrow

Symptoms

Feel full quickly when eating, trapped wind and burping?
Change in bowel habits that are more than three weeks i.e. going to the toilet more often or less often than usual?
Pain and/or mass on the right hand side?
Long term persistent indigestion, frequent heartburn or constant abdominal pain?
Stomach lumps?
Blood in faeces?
Black/tarry stools?
Loss of appetite?
Find passing stools difficult and constipated?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

Sepsis
Peritonitis
Dehydration
Liver disease (Jaundice)
Bilious vomiting (a yellow-green secretion arising from the liver or in some cases a clear or light brown granular matter)?
Severe abdominal pain?
Breathing difficulties?
Nausea and vomiting?
Severe swelling in abdominal area?
Reduced blood flow to the leg may cause pain and discoloration?
Duodenal atresia or stenosis (especially in new born)

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Back pain (constant dull ache)
Scleroderma (Crest syndrome)
Blood vessel disorders

If have stoma (after intestine surgery ) and is not active for more than 6 hours and you experience cramps or nausea, you may have an obstruction.

Avoid solid foods for the time being
Drinking plenty of fluids
Massage one’s tummy and the area around your stoma
Lying on your back, pulling your knees up to your chest and rolling from side to side for a few minutes
Taking a hot bath for 15 to 20 minutes to help relax the muscles in your tummy

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Bowel Obstruction in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

NHS
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National Organisation of Rare Diseases
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Verywell Health
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