Diagnosis and management of intestinal obstruction during pregnancy

Abstract

Acute intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is a rare, unusual, and very challenging non obstetric surgical pathology linked with great fetal-maternal morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that a surgeon may encounter and resolve 1 to 2 cases in his career. Bowel obstruction is difficult to diagnose because signs and symptoms such as pain, vomiting, abdominal distention, and constipation are frequently attributed to normal pregnancy. On the other hand, gravidity requires immediately, in case of suspicion of grave abdominal pathology, such as bowel obstruction, that surgery should not be delayed.