Is intestinal obstruction dangerous?

Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

Updated on September 27, 2024

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Whether intestinal obstruction is dangerous depends on the actual individualized level.

If the obstruction has progressed to symptoms of peritonitis, and if intestinal necrosis cannot be ruled out, not performing timely exploratory laparotomy surgery could potentially endanger the patient's life.

However, if it is just a mild incomplete obstruction, with signs of passing gas and stools, and the patient’s abdominal symptoms are not pronounced, and related examinations are not concerning, then the risk to the patient might be relatively smaller.

Therefore, in such cases, it is not possible to generalize, and decisions need to be made based on the individual situation.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

36sec

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How is intestinal obstruction treated?

The treatment methods for intestinal obstruction can be divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments in clinical practice. In our clinic, most cases of intestinal obstruction, such as adhesive obstruction or parasitic obstruction, can be alleviated through gastrointestinal decompression, enemas, and rapid expulsion of gas and stools, achieving the therapeutic goal. However, a small portion of intestinal obstructions do not respond to non-surgical treatments, and vital signs cannot be maintained; such cases require active surgical intervention.

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Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

1min 1sec

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Intestinal obstruction etiology

What are the causes of intestinal obstruction? Generally, in clinical practice, the causes and inducements of intestinal obstructions are mainly divided into the following aspects: Firstly, there are extraintestinal disorders, such as some space-occupying lesions in the abdominal cavity compressing the intestinal tube, causing narrowing of the intestinal lumen and thus obstruction. Additionally, there are diseases of the intestines themselves. Some severe intestinal diseases or tumorous conditions, or ischemic diseases of the intestines themselves, can all potentially lead to intestinal obstruction. If the symptoms of intestinal obstruction are typical, hospital treatment and possibly surgery may be necessary. Furthermore, some motility factors within the abdominal cavity can also cause intestinal obstruction, such as a reduction in the motility of the intestines or paralysis and expansion of the intestines due to electrolyte disturbances, leading to symptoms of intestinal obstruction.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

40sec

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Can you fart with intestinal obstruction?

When the contents of the intestines cannot normally pass through the intestinal tract and be expelled from the body, it is called intestinal obstruction. The main clinical manifestations include abdominal pain, abdominal distension, vomiting, and the cessation of bowel movements and gas passage through the anus. Clinically, some cases of partial intestinal obstruction can still pass gas, and some cases of high intestinal obstruction may also allow gas accumulation below the blockage to be expelled through the anus. However, the ability to pass gas does not mean that the patient's condition has improved; continuous treatment and observation are still necessary.

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Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

1min 4sec

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Causes of intestinal obstruction

Generally, the basic causes of intestinal obstruction can be divided into three categories. The most common is mechanical intestinal obstruction, which mainly includes blockage of the intestinal lumen, such as large fecal masses or corresponding foreign objects, and even parasites. The second type is compression of the intestinal tube, which can be caused by adhesions leading to torsion of the intestine or compression by tumors, and congenital inflammatory strictures and tumors can cause mechanical intestinal obstruction. The second major category is dynamic intestinal obstruction, which is primarily due to weakened peristaltic ability of the intestine, resulting in paralytic intestinal obstruction. This condition can be improved by adjusting intestinal function disorders or treating intestinal spasms. The third type is intestinal obstruction caused by vascular issues in the intestines, most commonly thrombosis of the mesentery or compression causing vascular disorders of the intestines.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

1min 2sec

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How is intestinal obstruction treated?

Patients with intestinal obstruction primarily receive the following treatments: First, basic treatment, which includes gastrointestinal decompression, where patients need to refrain from eating and drinking, meaning they cannot consume food or water. Additionally, a gastric tube may be inserted. Second, frequent vomiting combined with the prohibition of food and drink can lead to disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, so intravenous fluid supplementation is used to correct these imbalances. Third, appropriate antibiotics are used to prevent infection. Further, in cases of intestinal obstruction, abdominal distension can cause a sensation of bloating in the stomach, and somatostatin may be used to reduce the secretion of gastrointestinal fluids and alleviate abdominal distension. Alongside basic treatment, it’s essential to monitor the abdominal condition to see if it worsens, and surgical intervention should be considered when necessary.