acute

Bowel obstruction

Bowel obstruction, also known as obstruction, is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines that prevents the normal movement of the products of digestion. Either the small bowel or large bowel may be affected. Signs and symptoms include pain, vomiting, and not passing gas. Mechanical obstruction is the cause of about 5 to 15% of cases of severe abdominal pain of sudden onset requiring admission to hospital.

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Symptoms — what it feels like

· pain, vomiting, , not passing gas

Causes — why it happens

·Adhesions, hernias, volvulus, endometriosis, bowel disease, appendicitis, , diverticulitis, ischemic bowel, , intussusception

How it's found

·Medical

Treatment

·Conservative care,

Complications

·, bowel , bowel perforation

More in Intestines

Irritable bowel syndrome Inflammatory bowel disease Colorectal cancer Coeliac disease Typhoid fever Appendicitis Haemorrhoids Intestinal worms Amoebiasis Constipation Ulcerative colitis Crohn's disease

See all of Intestines →

Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.