Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction

Written by Ma Xian Shi

General Surgery

Updated on June 25, 2025

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The treatment of intestinal obstruction is divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment. If the obstruction is not too severe, or it is a partial intestinal obstruction, conservative treatment can generally be used. Conservative treatment includes fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, oral laxatives, enemas, use of antibiotics, correction of electrolyte disturbances, fluid replenishment, and other treatments, which can gradually relieve the condition. If the intestinal obstruction does not improve after repeated treatments and symptoms continue to worsen, with the possibility of intestinal necrosis or perforation, emergency surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

1min 4sec

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Causes of intestinal obstruction

Generally, the basic causes of intestinal obstruction can be divided into three categories. The most common is mechanical intestinal obstruction, which mainly includes blockage of the intestinal lumen, such as large fecal masses or corresponding foreign objects, and even parasites. The second type is compression of the intestinal tube, which can be caused by adhesions leading to torsion of the intestine or compression by tumors, and congenital inflammatory strictures and tumors can cause mechanical intestinal obstruction. The second major category is dynamic intestinal obstruction, which is primarily due to weakened peristaltic ability of the intestine, resulting in paralytic intestinal obstruction. This condition can be improved by adjusting intestinal function disorders or treating intestinal spasms. The third type is intestinal obstruction caused by vascular issues in the intestines, most commonly thrombosis of the mesentery or compression causing vascular disorders of the intestines.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

1min 2sec

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How is intestinal obstruction treated?

Patients with intestinal obstruction primarily receive the following treatments: First, basic treatment, which includes gastrointestinal decompression, where patients need to refrain from eating and drinking, meaning they cannot consume food or water. Additionally, a gastric tube may be inserted. Second, frequent vomiting combined with the prohibition of food and drink can lead to disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, so intravenous fluid supplementation is used to correct these imbalances. Third, appropriate antibiotics are used to prevent infection. Further, in cases of intestinal obstruction, abdominal distension can cause a sensation of bloating in the stomach, and somatostatin may be used to reduce the secretion of gastrointestinal fluids and alleviate abdominal distension. Alongside basic treatment, it’s essential to monitor the abdominal condition to see if it worsens, and surgical intervention should be considered when necessary.

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Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

1min 1sec

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How is intestinal obstruction diagnosed?

First, we diagnose intestinal obstruction, on the one hand, based on the patient's typical symptoms, and then combined with corresponding examinations. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and cessation of gas and bowel movements, among which cessation of gas and bowel movements is very important. Some have a state of persistent diarrhea, but the corresponding examination suggests intestinal obstruction, which is not the intestinal obstruction we speak of in surgical terms. After typical manifestations appear, corresponding examinations can be conducted. Currently, the fastest examination for diagnosing intestinal obstruction is an abdominal X-ray. The patient takes an X-ray in a standing position, for example, multiple fluid-gas levels appear in the abdominal plain film, in addition to proximal bowel dilatation and distal bowel collapse, or a CT scan reveals tumorous lesions, which are very important for the examination of the cause of the obstruction.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui

General Surgery

1min 19sec

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Is intestinal obstruction dangerous?

Intestinal obstruction is a relatively dangerous and common emergency condition in general surgery. It is a disease caused by an obstruction to the passage of intestinal contents, categorized by its causes into mechanical intestinal obstruction, dynamic intestinal obstruction, and vascular intestinal obstruction, among which vascular intestinal obstruction is particularly dangerous. Based on blood circulation in the intestinal wall, it is divided into simple intestinal obstruction and strangulated intestinal obstruction, with strangulated intestinal obstruction being more dangerous as it can easily lead to ischemic necrosis of the intestines. According to the degree of obstruction, it is classified into partial intestinal obstruction and complete intestinal obstruction, with the latter being more dangerous. Intestinal obstruction, especially strangulated or vascular intestinal obstruction, can lead to obstructed blood circulation in the intestinal wall, resulting in ischemic necrosis and possibly perforation, making it a very dangerous condition.

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General Surgery

36sec

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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.