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Intestinal obstruction may be defined as;
A clinical condition due to failure of the intestine (small or large),
to pass gas, liquid and solid material.
When we discuss intestinal obstruction, blockage in the esophagus is not
included, this is usually termed acute dysphagia or bolus
obstruction. Also, blockage to the outlet of the stomach is usually described
under gastric outlet obstruction.
Intestinal obstruction is used in this discussion as a generic term to cover
all varieties of blockage of the small and large intestines. Some confusion
exists in textbooks and among clinicians about terms such as acute, sub-acute
and chronic intestinal obstruction. In general, I prefer to not use these
terms because of such confusion, however to assist the student I will state
what I think they mean;
- Acute intestinal obstruction
- This term is often used
to describe intestinal obstruction of short duration, in a
patient who has not previously undergone any abdominal surgery.
The importance of lack of previous abdominal surgery is that
the obstruction is much less likely to settle on non operative
management.
- Sub-acute intestinal obstruction
- This term is often
used to describe intestinal obstruction of short duration, in a
patient who has previously undergone abdominal surgery. The
importance of previous surgery is that the obstruction is most
likely due to adhesions, is often incomplete and will often
settle without operative intervention.
- Chronic intestinal obstruction
- This term is often used
to describe intestinal obstruction of longer duration and would
typically be seen in a patient with large bowel obstruction who
has an incompetent ileo-caecal valve.
Next: Pathophysiology of Intestinal Obstruction
Up: Intestinal Obstructions
Previous: List of Figures
Index
Adrian P. Ireland