Small Bowel Obstruction
Overview
Causes
A small bowel obstruction can be caused by something inside the body blocking the movement of contents of the intestine. Examples are:
- Scar tissue, such as from a prior surgery
- Intussusception —one part of the intestine slides up into another part of the intestine
- Volvulus—the intestine twists on itself
- Impacted foreign bodies—items that were swallowed and got stuck
It can also be caused by ileus. This is a slowing down or stopping of bowel activity. It is also called as pseudo-obstruction. It may be caused by surgery on the intestine or certain medicines, such as opioids.
Small Bowel Obstruction |
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of a small bowel obstruction include:
- Hernias
- Crohn disease —an inflammatory bowel condition
- Abdominal, joint, or spine surgery
- Swallowing a foreign body
- A decrease in blood supply to the small bowel
- Abnormal growth of tissue in or next to the small intestine
- Tumors in the small intestine
- Cancer
- Infection in the lining of the small intestine
- Kidney disease
- Long-standing diabetes
- Gallstones (rare)
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
A person may have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Abdominal fullness and gas
- A swollen abdomen
- Pain and cramps in stomach area
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Bad breath
Treatments
Treatment
The goal of treatment will be to allow the contents of the intestine to move out of the body. How this is done depends on the cause and how severe it is.
Initial Care
Initial care and monitoring may used to see if the obstruction resolves on its own. This may include:
- Not eating anything by mouth
- IV fluids to promote hydration
- Nasogastric tube—A tube is inserted through the nose and into the stomach to remove fluids and gas
- Catheterization—A tube is placed in the bladder to drain and test urine
If the blockage is resolved, nutrition is given through an IV or feeding tube until the person can eat solid foods.
Medications
Medicines causing the obstruction may be stopped or changed. Other medicines may also be given, such as:
- Pain relievers
- Oral triple therapy—to reduce symptoms like gas and bloating
- Muscle stimulants—to promote muscle contractions in the intestine
- Antibiotics—to treat an infection if one is present
Surgery
Surgery may be needed to remove a blockage in people who are not helped by other methods. The surgery that is done will depend on the cause.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
Copyright © EBSCO Information Services
All rights reserved.