Bowel Obstruction

Any blockage that slows or stops food from passing through the intestines is called a bowel obstruction. These occur in adults, children, and even animals. Bowel obstructions are dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Unless an obstruction clears on its own, it may require emergency surgery. Another complication called strangulation occurs when the blood supply to the intestines is cut off. In these cases, gangrene (death of tissue or bone) can occur in as few as six hours.

Adhesions are the leading cause of blockage in both the small and the large intestines. Adhesions commonly form as a result of the natural healing process that occurs in the body following a surgery, trauma, infection, or inflammation. According to WebMD, adhesions that form after surgery are the leading cause of small bowel obstruction (SBO), causing 60% of all small bowel obstructions. In fact, SBO is so prevalent that it accounts for 20% of all acute surgical admissions in the USA.

Hernias and tumors are common causes of bowel obstruction in the intestines. Other causes of small bowel obstruction include inflammatory diseases, volvulus (twisting of the intestines), and intussusception (telescoping of the intestine). Many other issues can create bowel obstruction, such as diverticulitis, fecal impaction, and more.

Bowel obstruction symptoms include intermittent abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas, bloating, decreased appetite, and fever. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult their physician for further advice.

Treatments for partial bowel obstruction include drinking clear liquids, or placing a tube down the nose to drain the stomach. While many bowel obstructions resolve on their own without surgery, these obstructions tend to recur. Recurring obstructions can leave the person afraid to eat, leading to loss of nutrition, energy and weight. Adhesions that remain in the bowel after surgery are implicated as the cause of repeat obstructions.

One problem with adhesion surgery is that the body heals from the corrective surgery by laying down more scar tissue. This can cause more adhesions, and therefore lead to the necessity for another surgery, a potentially endless cycle of surgery-adhesions-surgery.

Patients caught up in this endless cycle tire of having repetitive surgeries to correct the problem, and usually choose to suffer through adhesion-related flare-ups on their own, at home. Many find themselves in a ball on the bathroom floor with a heating pad on their belly, and eating nothing at all or only clear liquids. The process for the exacerbation to remedy itself usually takes about 4 days. Then, sufferers goes back to their regular schedule, with the added stress of being concerned about when it will happen again, possibly leading to an emergency surgery.

There are conservative ways to manage adhesions and bowel obstructions. Non-surgical physical therapy to treat adhesions does exist. According to current research, non-surgical treatment is proving to be a viable answer for many women and men who have undergone multiple surgeries to remove adhesions.

References:

Wurn, Wurn, King. Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, Med-Art Press, 2009.