Intestinal Blockage

Intestinal blockage or bowel obstruction is a condition where the intestine gets obstructed thus preventing the normal passage of the contents of the intestine. This condition is a medical emergency that may have to be treated surgically.

Symptoms of intestinal blockage

Intestinal blockage may occur in different levels ranging from small bowel obstruction to large bowel obstruction. Depending on the levels, the symptoms may also vary and usually include constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distention, abdominal fullness, breath odor etc. Further complications may arise as vomiting may lead to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities and respiratory problems are likely to be caused by abdominal distension that increases the pressure on the diaphragm.

The symptoms of small intestinal blockage present itself in the form of pain that is cramping and irregular. Vomiting usually precedes constipation. In the case of large intestinal blockage, the pain occurs in the lower part of the abdomen accompanied by spasms that may last for a longer time. Constipation develops earlier with less prominent vomiting.

Causes of intestinal blockage

The causes of intestinal blockage also vary depending on the level of obstruction.  A few of the factors that cause small bowel obstruction are

-        Volvulus (twisting of a loop of the intestine)

-        Neoplasms (abnormal tissue growth)

-        Foreign bodies

-        Hernias

-        Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory disease of the intestine)

-        Intestinal atresia (narrowing or even absence of a part of the intestine)

-        Intussusception (one part of the intestine slides into another portion)

-        Carcinoid

-        Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (a life threatening condition caused by the compression of the duodenum by the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery)

Some of the causes of large bowel obstruction include:

-        Constipation

-        Colonic volvulus (sigmoid, caecal, transverse colon)

-        Colonic atresia (condition where there is narrowing or even absence of a part of the colon)

-        Neoplasm

-        Endometriosis (condition where the cells lining the uterine cavity occurs elsewhere in the body)

-        Hernias

-        Inflammatory bowel disease

-        Fecal impaction

-        Fecaloma (accumulation of feces inside the colon that eventually becomes harder in consistency)

-        Intestinal pseudoobstruction (failure of the intestine to contract and push the food through the gastrointestinal tract)

Diagnosis of intestinal blockage

Intestinal blockage is diagnosed by conducting blood tests, performing CT scans or ultrasound scans, colonoscopy, endoscopy, laparoscopy, and taking x-rays of the abdomen. If the tests detect the presence of any mass, then a biopsy is conducted to determine its nature.

Treatment of intestinal blockage

Intestine blockage often requires surgical treatment whereas in some cases it may resolve spontaneously. Small bowel obstructions can cause serious complications if left untreated. Treatment of small bowel obstructions involves the insertion of a flexible tube through the nose into the stomach. This helps the dilated intestine to decompress thus giving relief from the symptoms. An IV line will be placed into the vein to administer fluids and a catheter is placed into the bladder to drain urine. Patients having severe pain are given pain relievers. A majority of the patients get better with this type of treatment. However in some other cases the blockage may be due to other reasons such as cancer for which surgery is the only option.

Prognosis

The prognosis usually varies with the cause of the obstruction. Patients with intestinal blockage caused by reasons other than cancer generally do well after treatment. If cancer is the cause of the condition, then tests are performed to determine how much it has spread. In the case where the cancer has spread, the patient may have to undergo radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

Possible Complications of intestinal blockage

Following are the possible complications that may arise due to intestinal blockage

-        Jaundice

-        Infection

-        Peritonitis (infection in the abdominal cavity)

-        Development of hole in the intestine

-        Electrolyte imbalances

-        Blocking of blood vessels to the intestine leading to infection and gangrene

 

When to see a doctor

A medical professional has to be contacted if there is persistent abdominal distention or if any of the other symptoms of intestinal blockage are experienced.

Prevention of intestinal blockage

Prevention of this condition actually depends on the cause. While some causes cannot be prevented certain others can be treated to reduce the risk.