Bowel obstruction

Abstract

Bowel obstruction is one of the more common abdominal emergencies seen by emergency personnel. It occurs when there is interference with the normal forward progression of intestinal contents. The term ileus, in contrast, refers to intestinal obstruction caused by inadequate muscular contraction of the intestine. Any patient with the chief complaint of abdominal pain and with a history of prior abdominal surgery should be considered to have bowel obstruction until it has been definitively ruled out. The keys to decreasing the morbidity and mortality of bowel obstruction involve early diagnosis and preoperative resuscitation. This article will discuss the underlying anatomy, epidemiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of the emergent patient with underlying bowel obstruction.