Bowel Obstruction

Bowel obstruction blocks the forward passage of intestinal contents. It may be mechanical, caused by a physical barrier, or functional, caused by inadequate bowel motility without a fixed blockage. The bedside danger is not simply a missed bowel movement. Trapped fluid and gas stretch the bowel, vomiting and third spacing reduce circulating volume, and rising wall pressure can impair perfusion. Ischemia may progress to necrosis, perforation, sepsis, and shock. RN judgment therefore centres on trajectory: stable perfusion may allow a closely monitored, time-limited non-operative pathway, whereas peritoneal findings or evolving hypoperfusion require urgent surgical escalation.