Intestinal obstruction is a total or partial blockage of the intestinal lumen that interferes with normal passage through the intestine.
Mechanical causes include the presence of scar tissue after surgery, foreign bodies, gallstones, hernias, faecal impaction, insertion of one bowel segment into another, tumours, bowel torsion, etc.
Its manifestations are a clinical picture of pain and abdominal distension. In the majority of cases this is usually associated with nausea and vomiting, bad breath, constipation or diarrhoea and sometimes an inability to pass wind.
Diagnosis requires a detailed clinical history, a full physical examination, blood tests and diagnostic imaging.
Treatment requires good hydration, a strict diet, the insertion of a catheter from the nose to the stomach or intestine, and the possibility of administering antibiotics and/or surgery.
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