Surgery to relieve a bowel obstruction . Complete intestinal obstruction, no matter what the cause, is a surgical emergency. When a blockage (obstruction) occurs in the bowel (intestine), stool is unable to move through the bowel. Gas is trapped within the bowel, causing swelling , restricting normal blood flow, and causing portions of the bowel to die. The inside of the bowel normally contains many bacteria that serve to help digest foods. When portions of the bowel die, the bowel wall can leak fluids and bacteria out into the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), causing a severe infection ( peritonitis ). Intestinal obstruction can result from several causes, such as:
Band of fibrous or scar tissue (adhesions) Incarcerated hernias Tumors or cysts
Telescoping of a portion of bowel into another portion ( intussusception )
Twisting or kinking of the bowel (volvulus) Swallowed objects (foreign bodies)
Alternative Names
Intestinal blockage repair; Repair of volvulus; Volvulus repair; Intussusception - reduction of; Reduction of intussusception