Bowel Obstruction and Blockage - WebMD

A bowel obstruction is a serious problem that happens when something blocks your bowels, either your large or small intestine. MenuCrohn'sDiseaseHeartburn/GERDInflammatoryBowelDiseaseIrritableBowelSyndromeUlcerativeColitisNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindaGastroenterologistAppendicitisCeliacDiseaseChronicConstipationCrohn'sDiseaseDiarrheaDiverticulosisGallstonesHemorrhoidsPepticUlcerDiseaseMoreRelatedTopicsDigestiveDisordersReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyBrunildaNazario, MDonAugust10,2020InthisArticleWhatIsaBowelObstruction?TypesofBowelObstructionBowelObstructionSymptomsBowelObstructionCausesandRiskFactorsBowelObstructionDiagnosisBowelObstructionTreatmentWhatIsaBowelObstruction?Abowelobstructionisaseriousproblemthathappenswhensomethingblocksyourbowels,eitheryourlargeorsmallintestine.It’salsoknownasanintestinalobstruction.Ifyour digestivesystem comestoagrindinghalt,youcan’thavea bowelmovement orpassgas.Youmightalsonotice stomachpain andaswollenbelly.Acommontypeofblockageiscalledfecalimpaction.Thisiswhenalarge,hardmassofpoopgetsstuckinyourdigestivetractandcan’tgetpushedouttheusualway.Butwhenyourbowelisblockedbysomethingotherthanhardstool,doctorscallitabowelobstruction.TypesofBowelObstructionAbowelobstructionmaybeapartialblockageoracompleteblockage.Youcanalsohavewhat’scalledapseudo-obstruction.Thisiswhenyouhavesymptomsofabowelobstructionbutnothingphysicallyblockingit.Itcanhappenbecauseofproblemswithyourgastrointestinalmusclesorwiththenervesthatcontrolthem.BowelObstructionSymptomsSignsofanintestinalblockagewilldependonhowseveretheobstructionis.Butitalmostalwayscomeswithbellypain,usuallyaroundyourbellybutton,andcramping.Othersignsinclude:ConstipationCan’tpassgasLackofappetiteNauseaorvomitingAhard,swollenbellyDiarrhea(withapartialblockage)Ifyou’vebeen constipated andhaveanyofthesesymptoms,contactyourdoctorrightaway.They’llletyouknowwhattodo,includingwhethertocall911.Manypeoplewithbowelobstructionsareolderandmayhaveotherseriousillnesses,soabowelobstructionmaybelife-threatening.You’llmostlikelyneedtogotothehospitalfortreatment.BowelObstructionCausesandRiskFactorsYourbowelcouldbecomeblockedinseveralways:Partofyourbowelmayget twisted,whichcancloseitoffandkeepanythingfrompassingthrough.Itcanget inflamed andswellup.Partofyourintestinecanslideintoanotherpartlikeatelescope(intussusception).Scartissueora hernia couldmakeyourboweltoonarrowforanythingtopassthrough.A tumororothertypeofgrowth insideyourbowelcouldblockit.Damaged blood vessels leadingtothebowelcancausesomeboweltissuetodie.Inmanycases, inflammation,surgeries,or cancer cancauseabowelobstruction.It’smorelikelytohappeninolderpeople.Bowelobstructionscanhappeninyoursmallorlargeintestine,butthey’remorelikelytobeinthesmallintestine.Youmightbeathigherriskifyouhave:Crohn’sdiseaseDiverticulitisHerniaColoncancerStomachcancerOvariancancerScartissuefromsurgeryRadiation toyourbellyLungcancer, breastcancer,or melanoma that’sspreadtoyourbowelBowelObstructionDiagnosisYourdoctorwillaskaboutyourmedicalhistory,includingwhetheryou’vebeenconstipated,ifyou’vehad cancer,andwhatnewsymptomsyou’vehad.Theyalsomay:Doa physicalexam toseeifyouhavepaininyour belly,ifyou’reabletopassgas,oriftheycanfeelalumpinyourbellyOrderblood testsOrderurinetestsOrdera CTscanoranX-raytolookforablockageGiveyoua bariumenema.They’llputaspecialliquidthatcontainsbarium(awhitish-silvermetal)intoyourrectum.ItwillspreadintoyourbowelsandshowonanX-rayasabrightarea.Ifthere’sablockage,thebariummayshowit.BowelObstructionTreatmentYou’llprobablyneedtogotothehospitalfortreatment.Yourdoctorwillgiveyoumedicineandfluidsthroughavein(intravenousorIV).Theymayalsorunathintubethroughyournoseandintoyourstomach.Thisiscalledanasogastric(NG)tube.Itletsoutfluidsandgastoeaseyoursymptoms.Mostpartialblockagesgetbetterontheirown.Yourdoctormaygiveyouaspecialdietthat’seasieronyourintestines.Enemasofairorfluidcanhelpclearblockagesbyraisingthepressureinsideyourbowels.Ameshtubecalledastentisasafeoptionforpeoplewhoaretoosickforsurgery.Yourdoctorputsitinyourintestinetoforcethebowelopen.Somepeoplemaynotneedanythingmorethanastent.Othersmayneedsurgeryaftertheybecomestable.Surgeryisusuallythebesttreatmentforatotallyblockedintestinewhenyourbowelisdamaged.Yourdoctorcantreatthecauseoftheobstructionortakeouttheblockedareaandanydamagedtissue.Ifyouhavesurgery,youmayneedacolostomyorileostomy.Afteryourdoctortakesoutthedamagedpartofyourintestine,theysewtheresttoanopeninginyourskin.Poopexitsyourbodythroughthisopeningandgoesintoadisposablebag.Insomecases,yourintestinescanbereattachedafteryougetbetter.ScrollDownfortheNextArticleWhatArePrebiotics?CommonConstipationTreatmentsGastroparesis:WhattoEatandWhattoAvoidNewlyDiagnosedWithCrohn's?StepstoTakeRestaurantHeartburnTriggersExperimentalPillforCeliacDiseaseUlcerativeColitisSurgery--WhattoExpectTheIntestines(HumanAnatomy):Picture,Function,Location,Parts,Definition,andConditionsOnlinePuzzle:PlaytheGame!TestYourColitisIQUlcerativeColitisTreatments&SurgeryReasonforMyStomachCrampsandDiarrheaCrohn'sDiseaseandInflammatoryBowelDisease:54TipsColitisTopicsDigestiveMythsGetthefactsoncommonproblems.DiverticulitisDietBestandworstfoods.HowtoLiveGluten-FreeLearnwhatfoodstoavoid.DietaryFiberWillithelpconstipation?HealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads