HI, i am Maitri Doshi, a medical student, showing many different presentations that i made. It has introduction, causes, signs and symptoms, complications, and diagnosis. Short and easy to understand about GI obstruction.

1. - BY Maitri Doshi

2. What is intestinal obstruction?
 Intestinal obstruction is
significant mechanical
impairment or complete
arrest of the passage of
contents through the
intestine due to
pathology that
causes blockage of
the bowel.

3. The blockage may be complete or incomplete, may be mechanical or
paralytic, and may or may not compromise the vascular supply
Mechanical Obstruction: An intraluminal obstruction from pressure on
the intestinal walls occurs.
Functional Obstruction: The intestinal musculature cannot propel the
contents along the bowel.
90% - small bowel obstruction=ileum
10% - large bowel obstruction=sigmoid colon

4. Signs and Symptoms
 Depending on the level of obstruction, bowel obstruction
can present with abdominal pain, swollen
abdomen, abdominal distension, vomiting, fecal
vomiting and constipation.
 In small bowel obstruction, the pain tends to be colicky
(cramping and intermittent) in nature, with spasms lasting a
few minutes. The pain tends to be central and mid-
abdominal. Vomiting may occur before constipation.
 In large bowel obstruction, the pain is felt lower in the
abdomen and the spasms last longer. Constipation occurs
earlier and vomiting may be less prominent. Proximal
obstruction of the large bowel may present as small bowel
obstruction.

5. Causes
The most common causes of intestinal obstruction in adults are:
Intestinal adhesions — bands of fibrous tissue in the abdominal cavity
that can form after abdominal or pelvic surgery
Colon cancer
In children, the most common cause of intestinal obstruction is
telescoping of the intestine (intussusception).

6. Other possible causes of intestinal
obstruction include:
 Hernias — portions of intestine that
protrude into another part of your body
 Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as
Crohn's disease
 Diverticulitis — a condition in which
small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in the
digestive tract become inflamed or infected
 Twisting of the colon (volvulus)
 Impacted faeces
 Foreign bodies(gallstones, worms etc)

7. Complications
Untreated, intestinal obstruction can cause
serious, life-threatening complications,
including:
 Tissue death - Intestinal obstruction can
cut off the blood supply to part of your
intestine. Lack of blood causes the
intestinal wall to die. Tissue death can
result in a tear (perforation) in the
intestinal wall, which can lead to infection.
 Infection - Peritonitis is the medical term
for infection in the abdominal cavity. It's a
life-threatening condition that requires
immediate medical and often surgical
attention.

8. Diagnosis
The main diagnostic tools are blood tests, X-rays of the abdomen, CT
scanning, and ultrasound.
 if a mass is identified, biopsy may determine the nature of the mass.
 Radiological signs of bowel obstruction include bowel distension and the
presence of multiple (more than six) gas-fluid levels on supine and erect
abdominal radiographs. Ultrasounds may be as useful as CT scanning to
make the diagnosis.
 Contrast enema or small bowel series or CT scan can be used to define
the level of obstruction, whether the obstruction is partial or complete,
and to help define the cause of the obstruction. The appearance of
water-soluble contrast in the cecum on an abdominal radiograph within
24 hours of it being given by mouth predicts resolution of an adhesive
small bowel obstruction