Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction

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Forwarding from Health4UandMe

 

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<Health4UandMe >

Thursday, June 21, 2001 1:36 PM

[Health4UandMe] Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction

 

 

> " A mechanical obstruction of the intestine is a blockage that

> completely stops or seriously impairs the passage of intestinal

> contents.

> An obstruction may occur anywhere along the intestine. The part of

> the intestine above the obstruction continues to function. As it

> fills with food, fluid, digestive secretions, and gas, it swells like

> a soft hose.

> In newborns and infants, intestinal obstructionis commonly caused by

> a birth defect, a hard mass of intestinal contents (meconium), or a

> twisting of theintestine on itself (volvulus).

> If an obstruction cuts off the blood supply to the intestine, the

> condition is called strangulation. Strangulation occurs in nearly 25

> percent of teh cases of small-intestine obstruction. Usually

> strangulation results rom the trapping of part of the intestine in an

> abnormal opening (strangualated hernis); the twisting of a loop of

> intestine (volvulus); or the telescoping of a loop of intestine into

> another loop (intussusception). Gangrene can develop in as little as

> 6 hours. With gangrene, the intestinal wall dies, usually causing

> perforation, which leads to inflammation of the lining of the

> abdominal cavity (peritionitis) and infection. Without treatment, the

> person may die.

> Even without strangulation, the section of the intestine above the

> blockage enlarges. The intestinal lining becomes swollen and

> inflamed. If the condition isn't treated, the intestine can

> perforate, leaking its contents and causing inflammation and

> infection of the abdominal cavity.

>

> SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS

>

> The symptoms of intestinal obstruction include cramping pain in the

> abdomen, accompanied by bloating. The pain may become severe and

> steady. Vomitting, which is common, begins later with large-

> intestinal obstruction than with small intestinal obstruction.

> Complete obstruction causes severe constipation, while partial

> obstruction may cause diarrhea. A fever is common and is particularly

> likely if the intestinal wall is perforated. Perforation can rapidly

> lead to severe inflammation and infection, causing shock.

>

> If perforation has caused peritonitis, the person will feel pain when

> the docto presses on the abdomesn; the pain increases when the doctor

> suddenly releases the pressure-a symptom called rebound tenderness.

>

> X-rays may show dilated loops of intestine taht indicate the

> locationof the obstruction. The x-rays also may reveal air around the

> intestine in the abdomen, a sigh of perforation.

>

>

> TREATMENT

> Anyone who may have an intestinal obstruction is hopitalized. Usually

> a long, thin tube is passed through the nose and placed in the

> stomach or intestine. Suction is applied to the tube to remove the

> material that has accumulated above the blockage. Fluid and

> electrolytes (sodium and potassium) are given intravenously to

> replace water and salts lost from vomiting or diarrhea.

>

> Sometimes an obstruction resolves itself without further treatment,

> especially if it reults from adhesions. An endoscope advanced through

> the anus or a barium enema, which inflates the intestine,may be used

> to treat a few disorders, such as a twisted intestinal segment in

> the lower part of the large intiestine. Most often, however, surgery

> is performed as soon as possible. During surgery, the blocked segment

> of intestine may be removed and the remaining parts joined.

>

> This is the info from Merck Man on intestinal obstruction. I have one

> from my other book on Irritable Bowel Syndrome that I will send too.

>

> Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in

> good health even as thy soul prospereth.

>

> bev

>

>

>