Bowel Obstruction And Butthole Probs (Lauren 🌭) Flashcards
What is the difference between a partial and complete bowel obstruction?
Fluid and air can still pass in partial
What are the 3 ~broad~ causes of obstruction?
Extrinsic- something external compresses bowel (adhesions, abscess)
Intrinsic- something within the wall of bowel compresses (strictures)
Intraluminal- something like fecal impaction that prevents passage
What happens to the bowel that is proximal to an obstruction?
Bowel dilatation**
Retention of fluid**
What happens to the bowel distal to the obstruction?
Bowel decompresses
What causes the distention experienced by patients with bowel obstruction?
Swallowed air and gas from fermentation
In an obstruction, edematous bowel wall leads to ___________ ________
Fluid sequestration
Why are people with bowel obstruction volume depleted?
Due to the fluid sequestration within the edematous bowel wall
How could excessive dilatation lead to perforation?
It can compromise the vascular supply causing ischemia—> Necrosis —-> Perforation
What are the top 3 causes of small bowel obstruction?
ADHESIONS (65-75%)***
Hernia***
Neoplasm***
**KNOW THIS*
What causes adhesions?
Prior abdominal or pelvic surgery like appendectomy, GYN surgery, colorectal
If your patient has a small bowel obstruction, what do you most expect to learn in their history?
They had a previous abdominal surgery
65-75% of SBO’s are caused by adhesions compressing the bowel!!
How do post-operative adhesions cause small bowel obstruction?
They are fibrous bands that press down on the bowel
Risk of adhesions following surgery increases with _______
Time!!!!!
After 10 years or more, youre more likely to get adhesions
What will you find out when you ask ROS questions of someone who has small bowel obstruction?
+/- fevers and chills
Intermittent periumbilical cramping that turns into constant focal pain that may indicate peritonitis (Bad sign)
Bloating/distention
Anorexia (They don’t want to take anything by mouth)
Nausea
Vomiting
+/- hematochezia
Constipation
Obstipation
What is obstipation?
Inability to fart or poop
What will you find on physical exam of someone with small bowel obstruction?
Vitals: +/- fever, tachycardia, hypotension, shock
General: distress, *lying motionless**
Skin: decreased turgor, dry mucous membranes (VOLUME DEPLETED)
Abdominal: high pitched tinkling bowel sounds in early phase or hypoactive/absent bowel sounds in late phase ((bad sign). Tympany on percussion.
peritoneal signs- guarding, rigidity, rebound tenderness (RED FLAG)
DRE: gross/occult blood, fecal impaction or rectal mass
What are the RED FLAGS and BAD SIGNS in the physical exam findings for small bowel obstruction?
Shock
Lying motionless (Peritonitis)
Hypoactive/absent bowel sounds
Peritoneal signs- guarding, rigidity, rebound tenderness
Which will come first in abdominal ~medical~ conditions: pain or vomiting?
Vomiting before pain
Which will come first in abdominal ~surgical~ conditions: pain or vomiting?
Pain before vomiting
What labs will you order for SBO?
CBC
CMP
Amylase/Lipase
UA
Lactate/LDH
Why might H/H and BUN/Cr be high in someone with SBO?
dehydration
What can abdominal X-rays tell you about SBO, and what can they NOT tell you?
They can tell you if you have a SBO
They CAN’T tell you where, what’s causing it, if it’s complete, etc. You need a CT to tell you that
What X-Ray views do you order for SBO?
Supine
Upright
CXR
What will you see on X-Rays of Small Bowel Obstruction?
******
Dilated loops of bowel with air fluid levels**
Proximal bowel dilation with distal bowel collapse
CXR to look for free air consistent with perforation *****
KNOW THIS CARD*
If you have no idea wtf kind of imaging youre supposed to get but you have a very high suspicion for SBO or strangulated bowel, what should you do?
CALL A SURGEON AND LET THEM DECIDE ON IMAGING
Strangulated bowel is a surgical emergency!
How do you manage Small Bowel Obstruciton?
Admit
Surgery/GI consult
Trial of non-operative management
Serial clinical monitoring over the next 2-5 days: improvement evidenced by decreased distention, passage of gas/stool, decrease in NG output
How do you do a trial of non-operative management for SBO?
NPO
Volume RESUSCITATION (not maintenance fluid)
Electrolyte monitoring
Bowel decompression with NG tube set to suction
Anti-emetics, analgesics, antibiotics
What would make you do surgery for SBO?
Complications (ischemia, necrosis, perforation)
Intestinal strangulation
Worsening/unresolved symptoms with NG tube and bowel rest
What signs might make you think that your patient’s bowel obstruction has become ischemic, necrotic, or perforated?
Worsening abdominal pain
Fever
Tachycardia
Leukocytosis
Metabolic acidosis
Peritonitis
How will a patient with peritonitis present?
Looks sick
Lie still to minimize pain
Hypoactive/absent bowel sounds
Peritoneal signs
Significant pain with light palpating or bumps
If an adult has intussusception, what almost always causes it
Tumor
What is this:
“Hypomotility of GI tract in absence of mechanical bowel obstruction”
Ileus
What are the two main situation where we see patient with paralytic ileus?
Postoperative abdominal surgery (inflammatory response to intestinal manipulation/trauma)
Use of hypomotility agents (opioids, antispasmodic, anticholinergics)
How will a patient with ileus present?
Same presentation as Small Bowel Obstruction:
Pain, distention, bloating, gassy, NV, inability to tolerate PO, tympany,
What will you see on abdominal x ray of ileus?
Dilated loops of bowel BUT air present in BOTH small bowel and colon. NO air fluid levels
How do you manage ileus?
Similar to SBO:
IV fluids/Lyte replacement
Pain management (avoid narcotics)
Bowel rest
Bowel decompression with NG tube
Walk around
None of this was red or bolder
What is the most common cause of Large Bowel Obstructin?****
Adenocarcinoma, commonly colorectal **!!!**
What are the other possible causes of LBO, other than adenocarcinoma?
Stricture
Volvulus
IBD
Fecal impaction
Foreign bodies 🍾
What questions should you ask a patient if you suspect large bowel obstruction?
Hx of hematochezia, bleeding, or change in stool caliber (cancer q’s)
Personal or FH of cancer
LLQ pain with diarrhea
Chronic opioid use or constipation?
None of this was in red
How will a patient with LBO present?
Similar to SBO:
+/- Fever/chills
Crampy pain
Bloating/distention
Constipation/Obstipation
+/- NV
Normal to quiet bowel sounds
Abdominal tenderness
+/- peritoneal signs
Hematochezia
DRE- occult blood, impaction, rectal mass
None of this was in red
What labs/imaging will you get if you suspect LBO?
Pretty much the same stuff as SBO:
CBC, CMP, UA, LDH/lactate
Plain abdominal films supine and upright
CXR
Gastrografin enema if x ray unclear
CT scan
None of this was in red
What will you see on X ray if your patient has a LBO?
Distended colon proximal to obstruction
How do you manage a ~partial~ Large Bowel obstruction?
Trial of conservative therapy:
Surgical consult
NPO
IV fluids
Antibiotics
Decompression with NG tube if vomiting
Avoid narcotics and anticholinergics
How do you treat a ~complete~ large bowel obstruction?
Depends on the cause:
Cancer- surgical resection
Stricture- surgical resection
Cecal volvulus- surgical resection
Sigmoid volvulus- sigmoidoscopy with reduction
Intussusception- barium enema
Fecal impaction- enema
Which is the more common type of volvulus: sigmoid or cecal?
Sigmoid
What is this:
Abnormal twisting of a portion of the GI tract, usually the intestine, which can impair blood flow
Volvulus
What are the mean age groups that get sigmoid volvulus vs cecal volvulus?
Sigmoid: 70 yrs, constipated
Cecal: 33-53yrs
What are teh risk factors for sigmoidal volvulus?
Chronic constipation
Redundant sigmoid colon
Colon dysmotility
Hypomotility agents
How does the management of volvulus differ between sigmoid and cecal volvuli?
Sigmoid: flex sig to decompress and de-rotate. Surgery to resect redundant sigmoid colon
Cecal: surgery