What is it?
When part of the small intestine forms a loop that food bypasses during digestion, it is also known as stasis syndrome or stagnant loop syndrome.
- The presence of this ‘loop’ means food may not move normally through the digestive tract.
- This means food moves slowly and causing an abnormal increase in the overall bacterial population in the small intestine – particularly types of bacteria not commonly found in that part of the digestive tract (bacteria may produce toxins as well as block the absorption of nutrients) causing an abdominal infection leading to nausea vomiting and diarrhoea.
- It may cause malnutrition and weight loss.
- it tends to increase with age.
- Over time, certain inflammatory bacteria in the gut can erode the intestinal lining, impairing absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Losurdo G, Salvatore D’Abramo F, Indellicati G, Lillo C, Lerardi E, Di Leo A. The influence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in digestive and extra-intestinal disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21:3531. Source
- This erosion can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency while concurrently causing an overabundance of folate and vitamin K due to bacterial synthesis.
Diagnosis Tests
Blood tests to check:
Losurdo G, Salvatore D’Abramo F, Indellicati G, Lillo C, Lerardi E, Di Leo A. The influence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in digestive and extra-intestinal disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21:3531. Source
- Carbohydrate breath test:
- Metabolism of single-cell organisms forms unique by products (hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide) that are absorbed and eventually expelled through the lungs.
- To prepare for the breath test, patients should avoid antibiotics for 4 weeks, abstain from complex carbohydrates for 12 hours before the test, fast for 8-12 hours beforehand, avoid heavy exercise on the test day, and refrain from using laxatives or prokinetic drugs for 1 week before the test.
Cause
- Stomach /Abdominal surgery i.e.
- Gastric bypass for obesity
- Gastrectomy to treat peptic ulcers and stomach cancer
- Can be any type of surgery which causes digestion to slow down
- Structural problems with intestines. i.e.
- twisted or narrow at some points slowing the foods down or other organs pressing against intestine.
- Scar tissue (intestinal adhesions) that can wrap around the outside of the small bowel, and bulging pouches of tissue that protrude through the wall of the small intestine (intestinal diverticulosis)
- Bowel disease
- Bowel adhesions
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Diabetes of poor control leading to gastroparesis
- Motility disorders
- Radiation enteritis (damage to the small and/or large intestines secondary to radiation)
- Reduced stomach acid conditions
- Scleroderma
- Any other conditions that can slow movement (motility) of food and waste products through the small intestine
- Any disease that causes slowness in bowels
Syndromes
Medication
Symptoms
- High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
- General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
- Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting (vomited three times or more per 24 hours/day) or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child):
- 3 months -11 years old longer than 24 hours?
- 12 years old + longer than 48 hours?
- Bloody stools or rectal bleeding?
- Watery diarrhoea (six or more loose (diarrhoea) stools per 24 hours /day):
- 3-12 months old longer than 24 hours?
- 1-7 years old longer than 48 hours?
- 8 years old+ longer than 72 hours?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Medical Emergency Condition
And/or do not wait, phone for ambulance if have or develop:
This condition can lead to:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Oily stools and long term tiredness, lack of fat soluble vitamins causing:
-
- Distended (stretched) abdomen loosing its ability to preform efficient intestinal movement.
This condition may show similar symptoms to:
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Blind Loop Syndrome (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) 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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- Medscape
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- Pharmaceutical Journal
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Diet
