Small bowel obstruction occurs when the intestine loses function as a result of either partial or complete blockage. Postoperative scar tissue causes most bowel obstructions and can happen anywhere from four weeks to many years after surgery. An...
"Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery" states that small bowel obstructions are the most common surgical problem of the small intestine. These obstructions present with colicky abdominal pain, profuse vomiting and nausea. Resolution of a...
Small bowel obstruction occurs in the small intestine and prevents food or fluid from passing though. Pre-existing medical conditions including inflammatory bowel disease or kidney disease may increase your risk of intestinal obstruction. However,...
You will not hear it discussed in polite company, but a lower bowel obstruction is quite common. Adhesions or surgical scars often cause a blockage in your intestines. Mechanical obstructions caused by narrow, crimped or twisted sections of your...
Small bowel obstructions can be a medical emergency. It happens when fecal matter becomes stuck along the intestinal tract and nothing can move past it, causing everything to back up. There are stages to obstructions. For complete obstructions,...
A bowel obstruction occurs when there is a blockage in your small intestine or colon that prevents contents from moving through. An obstruction of the small intestine, or bowel, can cause painful symptoms and serious complications. Walking might...
Patients with colon cancer may develop a condition called a bowel obstruction. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the tumor prevents food and liquids from continuing through the intestinal tract. The intestines continue to try...
A bowel or intestinal obstruction occurs when a part of the small intestine becomes blocked. This is different from constipation because it has more severe symptoms and consequences. If diagnosed with a bowel obstruction, your physician will most...
According to "Schwartz's Principles of Surgery," obstruction is the most common surgical disorder of the small intestine. It can result from a variety of pathologic conditions, including those which originate within the bowel itself and those...
A bowel obstruction is the partial or complete blockage of areas of the small intestines, preventing food and digestive liquid from moving through. Referred to as an ileus, a bowel obstruction is caused by either something being in the way or...
A small bowel obstruction is a blockage preventing food and fluid from passing through the small intestine. A small bowel obstruction often occurs from adhesions after surgery, but tumors, hernias or other strictures can also cause blockage. The...
Small bowel obstruction occurs when the small intestine becomes blocked, either from within the bowel itself or from an external source, thus preventing food, liquid and gas from passing adequately through the intestinal tract. Patients present...
Toddlers are no strangers to minor health issues such as colds and flu, as their immune system continues to grow and develop. Stomach pain also is a common toddler complaint, and while the majority of the time it is nothing serious, a more ominous...
Flaxseed is a dietary supplement often used for its laxative properties. Ground flaxseeds contain soluble fiber that may improve bowel regularity. However, when taken in excess ground flaxseeds can cause constipation. In some cases, constipation...
Flaxseed contains plenty of nutritious components, including omega-3 fats, fiber and anti-cancer compounds called lignins. However, you should eat flax as part of an overall balanced diet, not in large doses all at once. Spreading your flax intake...
Under normal circumstances, dietary fiber, found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is an essential part of a healthy diet with many benefits, including promoting bowel regularity. However, certain conditions, such as bowel obstruction,...
Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach in morbidly obese patients and reroutes the digestive system to block some calorie absorption, according to MayoClinic.com. Patients often complain of constipation in the first three months...
Blockage of the small bowel, or small bowel obstruction, is a blockage in the small intestine that impedes the normal passage of fluid and digested material. The blockage is categorized as partial or complete. Most partial small bowel obstructions...
A partial bowel blockage, also called a partial bowel obstruction, is a condition in which your intestines are partially blocked. This blockage can stop or slow the passage of fecal material through your bowels. If you have a pre-existing...
Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy throughout the world in both men and women. It is third-leading cause of cancer related deaths in both genders, according to the American Cancer Society. It is most often diagnosed in the sixth decade of...
Gastric surgery is the most common type of bariatric surgery performed in the United States, according to the MayoClinic.com. The purpose of a bariatric surgery is to limit the amount of food the stomach can hold, therefore decreasing weight and...
Abdominal pain is a discomfort experienced in the region between the chest and the groin. The location of pain in the abdomen is a clue to the disease process causing the pain. Abdominal pain can originate from the organs of digestion as well as...
The colon, also called the large intestine, removes fluid from food as it passes through the final portion of the digestive tract. At times, a blockage occurs in the colon. Common causes of bowel obstruction in the colon include cancer, scar...
Trauma to the abdominal cavity caused by C-section results in the formation of a type of internal scar tissue, called adhesions. Abdominal adhesions may remain asymptomatic or they can cause serious complications such as bowel obstruction,...
Colorectal cancer--or cancer that originates from the colon or rectum--is a prevalent form of cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that 106,100 new cases of colon cancer and 40,870 cases of rectal cancer were diagnosed in the United...
The abdomen houses the digestive tract, liver, kidneys and several other vital organs. Abdominal pain can stem from a range of causes, most of which are transient and relatively mild. On the other hand, persistent or very severe abdominal pain can...
Endometriosis is the migration of endometrial tissue, the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, to areas outside the uterus. Endometriosis affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in at least 5 percent of cases, the New England Journal of...
Psyllium fiber is a natural substance found in many supplements and foods that help to maintain proper digestive functioning. It is commonly found in products like Metamucil, which is a bulk laxative. Psyllium fiber also has cholesterol-lowering...
A colon obstruction occurs when intestinal adhesions, hernias, tumors, inflammation or other structural problems in the intestines block the passage through the large bowel. Obstructions can be partial or complete. While partial blockages can...
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and, in some cases, the small intestine. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are examples. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for...