Small Bowel Flashcards
 what is small-bowel obstruction - SBO?
It’s a mechanical (or functional) obstruction – prevents normal transit of products of digestion
It is a medical emergency
What are the causes of small bowel obstruction?
Adhesions from previous surgery
Hernia
Foreign body – swallowed object, gallstone
Neoplasm, benign or malignant 
What are the complications that may occur from a small bowel obstruction?
Perforation and peritonitis
Abscess formation
Necrosis/ischaemia of the bowel
Death
What is paralytic ileus?
 paralysis of the bowel - bowel goes to sleep
Seen often after major abdominal surgery
What is the incidence of small bowel carcinoma?
Rare
M>F
What is the cause + symptoms of small bowel carcinoma?
Unknown
links to chrons
diet, alcohol previous peptic ulcer + colon cancer
asymptomatic early; average time to diagnose 6-8/12
What are the risk factors small bowel carcinoma?
Diet – fatty foods, red meat, smoked food
Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Previous peptic ulcer
Previous colon cancer
What is Crohn’s disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease – lining of our wall is inflamed and can be also dated
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
Weight loss
Diarrhoea
Abdo pain
Fatigue
What are the causes of Crohn’s disease?
Unknown thought that:
Western diet
genetic factors
smoking - causative factors
(Chrons) Who is the most prevalent in and how can it be treated?
Most common in females 16–30
Surgery often required
Where in the bowel is Crohn’s disease most commonly found?
Can occur in different parts of bowel – skip lesions
What are the radiological appearances of Crohn’s disease?
Ba filled stomach and small bowel
Narrowing at the terminal ileum
Perforation radiological signs?
Chrons disease radiological signs?
