Also called: Bowel obstruction, Intestinal volvulus , Paralytic ileus.
What is obstruction of the intestines?
Intestinal obstruction is a blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through your small intestine or large intestine (colon).
What is an obstruction in medical terms?
Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway . See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal obstruction.
What are the types of intestinal obstruction?
The intestinal obstruction can be of two types: complete blockage or partial blockage . Also, you can have a pseudo-obstruction. Complete Blockage: Complete blockage of the intestine means no food is passed through the intestine.
What is the medical term for blockage of the large intestine?
Intestinal obstruction : Blockage of the intestine by infolding (intussusception), malformation, tumor, digestive problems, a foreign body, or inflammation. Symptoms can include crampy abdominal pain, lack of ability to eliminate normal feces, and eventually shock. On examining the abdomen, the doctor may feel a mass.
What is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction?
The most common causes of obstruction are adhesions, hernias, and tumors ; a small-bowel obstruction in the absence of prior surgery or hernias is often caused by a tumor. Vomiting and third spacing of fluid cause volume depletion. Prolonged obstruction can cause bowel ischemia, infarction, and perforation.
Can you still poop if you have a bowel obstruction?
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 .
How long can you live with bowel obstruction?
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.
What foods are good for bowel obstruction?
Reduce tough, fibrous fruit and vegetables – chop these foods finely where possible (e.g. celery, mango). Avoid dried fruits, nuts & seeds. Strain fruit and vegetable juices and soups. Avoid wholegrain, high fibre breads and cereals.
What are the two types of obstruction?
- Upper airway obstructions occur in the area from your nose and lips to your larynx (voice box).
- Lower airway obstructions occur between your larynx and the narrow passageways of your lungs.
- Partial airway obstructions allow some air to pass.
How do you unblock your intestines?
Most partial blockages get better on their own. Your doctor may give you a special diet that's easier on your intestines. Enemas of air or fluid can help clear blockages by raising the pressure inside your bowels. A mesh tube called a stent is a safe option for people who are too sick for surgery.
What does a blocked intestine feel like?
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.
What is the primary complication of bowel obstruction?
A bowel obstruction, whether partial or complete, can lead to serious and life threatening conditions if left untreated. The intestine can get swollen from the trapped air, fluid, and food. This swelling can make the intestine less able to absorb fluid. This leads to dehydration and kidney failure .
Do laxatives help bowel obstruction?
A need for laxatives doesn't mean there's a bowel obstruction . People who are seriously ill often have trouble with bowel function. Laxatives are used to treat this before it has a chance to create a bowel obstruction.
What drinks make you poop?
- Prune juice. The most popular juice to relieve constipation is prune juice. ...
- Apple juice. Apple juice may provide you with a very gentle laxative effect. ...
- Pear juice.
What causes small intestine obstruction?
A small bowel obstruction is a blockage in the small intestine. Small bowel obstructions are usually caused by scar tissue, hernia, or cancer . In the United States, most obstructions occur as a result of prior surgeries. The bowel often forms bands of scar (called adhesions) after being handled during an operation.
Can you get sepsis from a bowel blockage?
If the blockage is not diagnosed or treated right away, it can lead to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, vomiting, respiratory problems, aspiration, bowel ischemia or lack of blood and oxygen to the intestine, bowel death, perforation, sepsis and even death.
What happens if you take MiraLAX with a bowel obstruction?
You should not use MiraLAX if you have a bowel obstruction or intestinal blockage. If you have any of these conditions, you could have dangerous or life-threatening side effects from MiraLAX . People with eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia) should not use MiraLAX without the advice of a doctor.
Can poop get stuck in your intestines?
A fecal impaction is a large, hard mass of stool that gets stuck so badly in your colon or rectum that you can't push it out. This problem can be very severe. It can cause grave illness or even death if it's not treated. It's more common among older adults who have bowel problems.
Does Coke help constipation?
This type of Coca-Cola is becoming a popular health drink in Japan because it acts like a laxative . Coca-Cola Plus is becoming a popular health drink in Japan. The fizzy drink acts like a laxative. It contains a high-fiber substance called indigestible dextrin, which increases the body's ability to remove waste.
How do you fix bowel obstruction without surgery?
Placing an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your arm so that fluids can be given. Putting a tube through your nose and into your stomach (nasogastric tube)to suck out air and fluid and relieve abdominal swelling. Placing a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into your bladder to drain urine and collect it for testing.
