Perspectives on Mechanical Small Bowel Obstruction in Adults

Elroy Patrick Weledji

doi:10.19080/argh.2017.04.555632

Abstract

Perspectives on Mechanical Small Bowel Obstruction in Adults

Highlights

Small bowel obstruction accounts for about 85% of cases of intestinal colic and the other 15% are due to large bowel obstruction [1]
Intestinal obstruction may be mechanical which presents with colicky pain or paralytic which is painless being aperistaltic
Intestinal adhesions are the commonest cause of mechanical small bowel obstruction in the western world due to the greater number of operations performed [2,11]

Summary

Introduction

Small bowel obstruction accounts for about 85% of cases of intestinal colic and the other 15% are due to large bowel obstruction [1]. It is a serious and costly medical condition constituting 1.9% of all hospital and 3.5% of all emergency treatment that has led to laparotomy in the United States [2,3,4]. Intestinal obstruction may be mechanical which presents with colicky pain or paralytic which is painless being aperistaltic. The latter is commonly seen in postoperative ileus which resolves after 24-48 hrs or from electrolyte (potassium) imbalance with diuretic use [6,7]. Neoplastic mass (not primary to small bowel) adjacent to bowel (local invasion) (Europe 10% Africa 5%)

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion