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BOWEL OBSTRUCTION
GENERAL
INFORMATION:
What
is it?
A
bowel obstruction (ub-struk-shun) is when food or air does
not move through either the small or large intestine (bowel).
The bowel is a 20 foot long coiled tube inside your abdomen
(belly). This is where BM is formed. The bowel runs from your
stomach to your anus (rear end). The anus is where BM leaves
your body.
Neither food or air moves through the bowel with a complete
bowel obstruction. Some, but not all, of the food or air moves
through the bowel in an incomplete bowel obstruction. Bowel
obstructions are more common in very young or older people.
A bowel obstruction can usually be treated.
Causes: The following may be possible causes of a bowel obstruction.
Ask your caregiver any questions about the causes that are
listed below.
Abdominal
(belly) surgery.
Abnormal tissue that is growing inside or outside the bowel.
Cancer.
Constipation (hard BM).
Gallstones.
Hernia.
Intussusception (in-tuh-suh-sep-shun) of a part of the bowel.
Low blood potassium (puh-tah-c-um).
Nerve damage to the bowel.
Swallowing a foreign object.
Tumor (growth) in or around your bowel.
Twisted bowel.
Signs and Symptoms: The following are signs of a bowel obstruction.
Abdominal
pain and cramping.
Abdominal swelling.
Blood in BM.
Constipation.
Diarrhea (di-uh-ree-uh).
Gas.
Vomiting (throwing up).
Care: Your caregiver may suggest one or more of the following
tests or treatments.
Tests:
Abdominal x-rays.
Barium enema.
Blood tests.
Colonoscopy.
CT scan of abdomen.
EGD.
Laparoscopy (lap-er-oss-kuh-p).
Sigmoidoscopy.
Ultrasound.
Upper GI (gastrointestinal) x-ray.
Urine tests.
Treatment:
Medicine.
NG (nasogastric) tube.
Surgery.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You
have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan,
you must learn about your illness, injury, surgery, or procedure.
You can then discuss your treatment options with your caregiver.
You can work with him/her to decide what care will be used
to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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