Week 5.1 Bowel Obstruction

Question 1

there can be two types of bowel obstruction, what are they

Answer 1

inside (meaning something like a tumor or swelling)

outside (like organs or tissues that are compressing the intestines)

Question 2

if you have colic pain and abdominal pain, you have an obstruction in the ___ intestine

Answer 2

small

Question 3

if you have distention, the obstruction is in the ___ intestine

Answer 3

large

Question 4

what 4 broad categories can cause bowel obstruction in the Small

Answer 4

adhesions
hernias
inflammatory diseases
Tumors

Question 5

what is a hernia

Answer 5

it is a bulge where the intestine passes through the abdominal wall

Question 6

give examples of inflammatory diseases

Answer 6

Chron’s, diverticulitis

Question 7

tumors in the SMI usually spread from the

Answer 7

colon, reproductive organs, breast, bowel, skin

Question 8

what is a leading risk factor for a SBO

Answer 8

early abdominal surgery

Question 9

what does the abdominal pain feel like with a SBO

Answer 9

intense waves, 5-15 minutes between the naval and the rib cage

Question 10

what is you have constant abdominal pain with a SBO

Answer 10

there is bowel strangulation

Question 11

S+S of SBO

Answer 11

• cramping and abdominal pain
• nausea and vomiting
• no gas passing through the rectum
• bloating and tenderness
• rapid pulse and breathing
• upper GI distension
• constipation
• lack of appetite

Question 12

LBO is the cause of ___% of all bowel obstructions

Answer 12

80

Question 13

what is the mortality rate of a LBO

Answer 13

10-30% depends on the perforation

Question 14

what is the most common cause of LBO in developed countries

Answer 14

adhesions

Question 15

what is the other most common cause of LBO

Answer 15

adenocarcinoma colon

Question 16

what does colorectal cancer cause

Answer 16

narrowing of the lg intestine and constipation before the obstruction

Question 17

what is a Volvolus

Answer 17

cause of a LBO, that is when the abdomen twists a segment of the bowel around itself. The twisting is a closed loop of bowel with a pinched base. Typical in Western countries, people over 65, with a hx of constipation

Question 18

how does Diverticular disease cause LBO

Answer 18

you get a small balloon shaped pouch out of the wall in the intestine, that can become infected (diverticulitis). when it heals, you get scars in the wall of the colon. this tightens and narrows and ends up blocking the colon.

Question 19

what is the name of the scar tissue encircling the colon?

Answer 19

whirl sign

Question 20

LBO S+S

Answer 20

• lower abdominal distention and bloating
• lower abdominal cramping and pain (vague, mild, sharp severe)
• constipation
• diarrhea
• possible rectal bleeding (streaks)

Question 21

how does one get diarrhea with an obstruction

Answer 21

the liquid stool can pass around the partial obstruction

Question 22

what are the red flags for immediate referral

Answer 22

intense and constant abdominal pain
vomiting
bloating
blood in the stool