Bowel obstruction

Intestinal obstruction is defined as obstruction of the passage of the intestine for its contents ( we focus mainly on mechanical bowel obstruction here )

Small and large bowel obstruction- common surgical emergency

Small bowel obstruction ( SBO ) is more common than large bowel obstruction & in the US > 300,000 laparotomies are performed / year for SBO

Bowel obstruction can involve the small or large bowel ( colon ) or both

Data from UK ( NASBO ) reveals that SBO is a common indication for emergency laparotomy wit h a 90 day mortality of 13 % ( Matthew Lee et al 2017)

In the UK currently no clinical guideline is available to guide the management of SBO

SBO is associated with high mortality & morbidity among survivors ( mortality increases if there is strangulation or perforation )

Subacute SBO means an incomplete obstruction of the bowel lumen

Pseudo-obstruction implies dilatation of bowel in absence of an anatomical obstruction ,signs & symptoms are similar to those of bowel obstruction as nausea , vomiting ,abdominal distension & obstipation ( can be acute / chronic )

Most common cause of SBO in developed nations is due to extrinsic causes with post-surgical...