How to deal with intestinal obstruction?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 14, 2024
00:00
00:00

Patients with intestinal obstruction commonly present with abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and cessation of passing gas or stool. Treatment for intestinal obstruction primarily includes conservative management and surgical intervention. Conservative treatment firstly involves gastrointestinal decompression, abstaining from food and drink, and, if necessary, the insertion of a gastric tube. The second step is to enhance anti-inflammatory measures to prevent infections within the abdominal cavity. The third step is proactive fluid replenishment to prevent disorders of water and electrolyte balance. Along with aggressive conservative treatment, the patient's overall condition should be monitored. If a pseudo-obstruction occurs, surgical treatment should be actively pursued.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
48sec home-news-image

How to deal with intestinal obstruction?

Patients with intestinal obstruction commonly present with abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and cessation of passing gas or stool. Treatment for intestinal obstruction primarily includes conservative management and surgical intervention. Conservative treatment firstly involves gastrointestinal decompression, abstaining from food and drink, and, if necessary, the insertion of a gastric tube. The second step is to enhance anti-inflammatory measures to prevent infections within the abdominal cavity. The third step is proactive fluid replenishment to prevent disorders of water and electrolyte balance. Along with aggressive conservative treatment, the patient's overall condition should be monitored. If a pseudo-obstruction occurs, surgical treatment should be actively pursued.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
53sec home-news-image

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction is caused by any factor that causes blockage of the intestinal tube. Compression and twisting cause the intestinal contents to not pass normally, leading to obstructive symptoms. Clinically, intestinal obstruction mainly presents with four major symptoms: first, intermittent abdominal pain; second, vomiting, where the higher the location of the obstruction, the earlier and more frequent the vomiting, consisting mainly of food or gastric fluid. If the location of the obstruction is lower, the vomiting is delayed and less frequent and may include fecal matter; third, abdominal distension, which generally occurs after the obstruction has been present for some time, and its severity is related to the location of the obstruction; fourth, cessation of gas and feces discharge through the anus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Tian
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction

The symptoms of intestinal obstruction generally manifest as abdominal pain, especially cunning types that can cause severe abdominal pain. Secondly, due to the blockage of the intestines by the obstruction, it can lead to vomiting of stomach acid, which is also greatly related to the location of the obstruction. Thirdly, there will be intestinal discomfort, which leads to some discomforts. Therefore, if the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to quickly visit the general surgery department to complete relevant examinations and intervene early based on the results to prevent further damage.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
1min 1sec home-news-image

Intestinal obstruction etiology

What are the causes of intestinal obstruction? Generally, in clinical practice, the causes and inducements of intestinal obstructions are mainly divided into the following aspects: Firstly, there are extraintestinal disorders, such as some space-occupying lesions in the abdominal cavity compressing the intestinal tube, causing narrowing of the intestinal lumen and thus obstruction. Additionally, there are diseases of the intestines themselves. Some severe intestinal diseases or tumorous conditions, or ischemic diseases of the intestines themselves, can all potentially lead to intestinal obstruction. If the symptoms of intestinal obstruction are typical, hospital treatment and possibly surgery may be necessary. Furthermore, some motility factors within the abdominal cavity can also cause intestinal obstruction, such as a reduction in the motility of the intestines or paralysis and expansion of the intestines due to electrolyte disturbances, leading to symptoms of intestinal obstruction.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
43sec home-news-image

Enema method for intestinal obstruction

Enemas are an effective treatment measure in the management of intestinal obstruction. An enema involves a nurse using an enema bag to introduce about 500 milliliters of soapy water through a rounded-tip catheter into the rectum via the anus. Typically, the catheter is inserted about 30 centimeters deep. The purpose of injecting soapy water into the rectum is to stimulate intestinal peristalsis, leading to the expulsion of intestinal contents. During this process, it is important to avoid damage to the intestinal mucosa and consider the patient's tolerance. Generally, it is preferable to retain the soapy water for an extended period for better results.