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Intestinal Obstruction
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/intestinalobstruction.html

Intestinal Obstruction

Also called: Bowel obstruction, Intestinal volvulus, Paralytic ileus
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • No links available

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • No links available

For You

  • Children
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

An intestinal obstruction occurs when food or stool cannot move through the intestines. The obstruction can be complete or partial. There are many causes. The most common are adhesions, hernias, cancers, and certain medicines.

Symptoms include:

  • Severe abdominal pain or cramping
  • Vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Loud bowel sounds
  • Swelling of the abdomen
  • Inability to pass gas
  • Constipation

A complete intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency. It often requires surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

  • Anatomic Problems of the Lower GI Tract From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal Obstruction (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • CT Enterography (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Radiographic Tests in GI (American College of Gastroenterology)

Treatments and Therapies

  • Colectomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Colostomy - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal obstruction repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Small bowel resection - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

  • Ileus (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Specifics

  • Acute Mesenteric Ischemia (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
  • Bowel Obstruction and Cancer Treatment From the National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
  • Disorders of the Large Intestine (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)
  • Disorders of the Small Intestine (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)
  • Intestinal Ischemia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Genetics

  • Epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Feingold syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Fecal Impaction From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Intestinal Obstruction From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Intestinal Volvulus From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Intussusception From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Surgical outcome of pediatric intestinal obstruction in Amhara comprehensive specialized hospitals,...
  • Article: An evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic colon stenting...
  • Article: Serum biomarkers of collagen remodeling are associated with intestinal fibrosis and...
  • Intestinal Obstruction -- see more articles

Children

  • Hirschsprung Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Hirschsprung Disease From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Intestinal Malrotation (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal obstruction (pediatric) - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Intussusception (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Intestinal obstruction and Ileus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal obstruction repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal or bowel obstruction - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Intussusception - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Small bowel resection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Intestinal Obstruction

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Abdominal CT scan
  • Amylase - urine
  • Colostomy - series
  • Hirschsprung disease
  • Intestinal obstruction (pediatric) - series
  • Intestinal obstruction and Ileus
  • Intestinal obstruction repair
  • Intestinal obstruction repair - series
  • Intestinal or bowel obstruction - discharge
  • Intestinal pseudo-obstruction
  • Intussusception - children
  • Large bowel resection - discharge
  • Small bowel resection
  • Small bowel resection - discharge
  • Small bowel resection - series
  • Total colectomy or proctocolectomy - discharge
  • Volvulus - childhood

Related Health Topics

  • Adhesions
  • Colonic Diseases
  • Small Intestine Disorders

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Intestinal Obstruction is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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