Symptoms of bowel obstruction

Symptoms of bowel obstruction were known to Hippocrates. Today the signs of the disease is very well researched, developed different methods to identify them, including the causes, which often depends on the tactics of treatment of such patients.

The main symptom of intestinal obstruction - abdominal pain

When intestinal obstruction can occur a number of symptoms, which vary depending on the type, level and flow, which is an obstacle to the passage of stool.

The main and constant feature of obstruction that occurs always, is abdominal pain. The pain may begin abruptly, sharply, without any external cause. But in some cases there is also the growing pain that after a while it becomes unbearable.

Usually the pain comes in the form of intestinal spasms (cramping, increasing the intensity of pain). If the intestine is restrained with the mesentery and passing vessels in it, the pain can be constant and growing against the background of the fights.

If the cause of intestinal obstruction is a blockage of it, the pain goes after labor completely. Gradually, the pain of cramping becomes permanent - it indicates the presence of paresis (immobilization) of the intestine above the obstruction. After 48 - 72 hours after the onset of the disease, if the patient was not helped, abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms   stop, which is a terrible sign that says the complete paresis or paralysis of muscles of the intestine.

Less than a permanent sign of bowel obstruction - vomiting

Vomiting with ileus is not always, its occurrence depends on where in the bowel obstruction formed. If this is the initial sections of the intestine, the vomiting occurs more frequently and can be repeated many times. In the intervals between vomiting observed nausea, belching Belching: why it happens and that means , Hiccups Hiccups - and if this is something serious? . If the bowel obstruction is low (in the end of its departments), the vomiting can be single or entirely absent. But when the obstruction is attached to inflammation of the peritoneum (serous membrane lining the inside of the abdominal cavity), that is developing peritonitis vomiting becomes permanent, without bringing relief to the patient at the same time.

In severe intestinal obstruction in patients with a so-called fecal vomiting the contents of the upper intestine.

The third sign of bowel obstruction - a delay of gases and chair

Bloating is a common symptom of intestinal obstruction. Mechanical bowel obstruction (eg, inversion and uzlooobrazovanie) are typically characterized by uneven swelling. At low ileus the expressed bloating, whereas at high obstruction (in the region of the small intestine) swelling may not be absolutely.

With dynamic ileus occurs swelling of the entire abdomen and no visible to the eye movements of the intestine.

Delay of the chair and gas is an important symptom of intestinal obstruction. But in the first hours after the onset of the chair is an independent, or after the enema, the gases can also retreat. This happens because at the beginning of the disease may be incomplete closure of the lumen of the intestine. There may also stand stool, located below the obstacles. Fecal in this case depart in small portions and the chair does not alleviate the patient's condition.

Delay of the chair and gas leads to characteristic changes in the language. In the first hours, these changes are minor, but with the growth of intoxication language becomes dry (fluid output from vomiting), covered with a yellowish-white coating. At the advanced stage of the disease the tongue becomes dirty-brown or brown - this indicates severe intoxication, dehydration and peritonitis.

The general condition of the patient with the intestinal obstruction

The general state of the patient with severe ileus, particularly it quickly deteriorates when the blood supply to the bowel wall broken because squeezing the blood vessel or the formation of blood clots therein.

Patients usually take recumbency. Expression at the beginning of the disease is characterized by fear and pain at the moment of attack becomes anguished. With the development of the disease face pale, features sharpened, there is cold sweat. Such a person is called a person of Hippocrates.

Body temperature can vary within a wide range of severe forms of mechanical obstruction with extensive necrosis (dying away) portions of the intestinal wall may occur collapse (sudden drop in blood pressure) and reducing the temperature to 35˚. In other forms of the disease may rise and high temperature.

Yet the principal and constant feature of intestinal obstruction is abdominal pain. If the person has severe abdominal pain Severe abdominal pain: possible causes Then in any case it should not be given pain medication - this can dull the pain for a while, but in the meantime the disease goes into more serious stage.

Bowel obstruction in children

Bowel obstruction in children, in most cases there is a mechanical and only about 10% of the dynamic obstruction occurs. Among the various types of mechanical obstruction is most common intussusception, at least - adhesive obstruction, obstructive ileus and intestinal volvulus.

Intussusception as a cause of intestinal obstruction in children

Invagination - is the introduction of one part of the intestinal lumen to the other, thereby developing ileus. Usually intussusception in children under one year due to the fact that children at this age often have intestinal motility disorders due to malnutrition and various intestinal infections. In some children, the cause of intussusception are diverticula (protrusions in the form of pockets) intestines, tumors, polyps of the intestine.

The most common implementation of the small intestine into the large, much less - in thick and thin to thick thin. The signs of intussusception are occurring at regular intervals cramping abdominal pain, vomiting, and streaks of blood in the stool in the child. The doctor may feel dense elongated swelling in the abdomen of the child. The easiest way to such a palpable tumor, while research through the rectum and palpation of the abdomen outside.

To clarify the diagnosis is carried out with the introduction of X-ray through the rectum pressurized air, which acts as a contrast. In some cases, intussusception may be confused with hard flowing dysentery Dysentery - "disease of dirty hands" , Certain blood disorders Diseases of the blood - always seriously , Intestinal diverticula. But x-ray helps to clarify the diagnosis.

Tactics of treatment depends on the duration of intussusception in advance. For example, if disease has passed since the start of no more than days, the treatment may be conservative. To do this, the child's rectum air is introduced under pressure, resulting in the intestine is straightened. If, however, with the onset of the disease has gone more than a day, the operation is conducted, during which the intestine is straightened manually. If necrosis of the bowel wall has occurred, the modified portion of the intestine was removed.

The cause of intestinal obstruction - adhesive disease in a child

Adhesions (fusion) in the abdominal cavity can also be a cause of intestinal obstruction in children. Adhesions result from inflammatory diseases, trauma and abdominal operations. During the first month after the start of the development of adhesions (eg after surgery) in children may develop early bowel obstruction, but if more time has passed, it's too late.

Early intestinal obstruction is primary and delayed. Primary obstruction usually occurs paresis (temporary immobilization) of the intestine. The mechanism of intestinal obstruction in this case - the jam of feces in a certain place (obstruction). At the same time the child has been a sharp abdominal distension (usually over the entire surface), the absence of the chair more than a day, and vomiting with a constantly increasing volume of vomit. If it is a drug stimulation of the bowel, then there is pain in the abdomen. Correct diagnosis helps bowel radiography.

Early delayed intestinal obstruction in children appears later, when passing paresis and restored motor activity of the intestine. Evolved spikes compress the intestine and form an obstruction. The child appeared paroxysmal severe abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms   (fight), asymmetric bloating, constipation and vomiting. The diagnosis to be confirmed using X-ray of the intestine.

Late ileus manifested as well as early and delayed, but the child's condition can be more severe. Sometimes this kind of obstruction can be confused with food poisoning.

Adhesive intestinal obstruction in almost half the cases treated conservatively. Child doing siphon enema, novocaine blockade. But if the conservative treatment of the child's condition does not improve, then the operation is conducted, during which the surgeon separates adhesions Adhesions - how to get rid of them? , Tightening the intestines and carries out a full examination (audit) of the abdominal cavity. If you find dead this part of the intestinal wall intestine removed.

Obstructive ileus and intestinal volvulus

Obstructive intestinal obstruction caused by stagnation of feces (coprostasis), worms, various types of tumors. Abdominal pain thus can not be as strong as in other types of obstruction, but almost always occurs vomiting and constipation. Treatment of obstructive ileus (except tumors) conservative: the child made siphon enema.

Improper irregular feeding of the child may be bowel volvulus, during which the child suddenly appear strong cramping, vomiting, constipation, bloating from gas and loss of consciousness. Treatment of a bowel obstruction can only be operative.