Quick Hit:
- Etiology:
- Most common = Adhesions (post-abdominal surgery)
- Other causes = hernia, malignancy, intraluminal stricture, intussusception, foreign body, duodenal hematoma
- Symptoms
- colicky/paroxysmal abd pain w/ episodic, hyperactive bowel sounds, diffuse abd tenderness, bilious vomit
- failure to pass stool or flatus = signs of complete bowel obstruction
- Diagnosis: dilated loops on x-ray, dilated fluid filled loops (air-fluid levels) on CT Abdomen
- Management:
- IV fluid resuscitation w/ electrolyte repletion
- Complete obstruction, or signs of peritonitis = surgical emergency
- Partial obstruction: non-operative management (NG tube decompression, close observation)
- Complications: strangulation
- Signs of strangulation = metabolic acidosis from lactic acidosis secondary to ischemic necrosis caused by strangulation
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