Overview
At a Glance
An intestinal obstruction stops or severely impairs forward movement through the bowel.
An intestinal obstruction stops or severely impairs forward movement through the bowel. It may be mechanical, caused by a physical blockage, or functional, as in postoperative ileus; it may be partial or complete and involve the small or large bowel. Approximately 75% involve the small bowel and 25% the large bowel. The danger is more than retained stool. Gas, fluid, and secretions collect above the obstruction, while vomiting and third spacing reduce circulating volume. Increasing pressure can impair bowel perfusion, leading to ischemia, necrosis, perforation, sepsis, and shock. Every confirmed bowel obstruction requires hospital admission for fluid management, observation, and timely surgical escalation.