Intestinal Blockage Treatment

Intestinal blockage is a medical problem, wherein, the small or large intestine is blocked partially or completely. And the outcome disturbs the normal flow of food and waste through the intestine, resulting in painful symptoms. Also commonly referred to as intestinal obstruction, blockage of the intestine is a life-threatening medical complication that requires prompt treatment by a qualified doctor.

At times, this condition is caused due to mechanical obstruction by scar tissue (adhesion), tumor, or just narrowing and twisting of the intestine. As far as small intestine blockage is concerned, scar tissue or a foreign body is the leading cause, where a large intestinal blockage is mainly due to cancer.

This medical problem in children is developed as a result of paralytic ileus. Based on the severity of the underlying problem, treatment is done with or without surgery.

The related symptoms tend to come and go at regular intervals. Or at times, the painful symptoms become chronic and remain for several days.

Depending upon the extent of blockage, the symptoms may vary from one patient to another.

• Pain in the abdomen
• Abdominal tenderness
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Excessive bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Running high temperature or fever

If this condition remains undiagnosed for long, it can lead to severe health complications. Hence, in case of persistent abdominal discomfort or manifestation of any of these symptoms, it is imperative to consult a doctor at the earliest.

An untreated condition may lead to necrosis or cell death of localized parts. In case the physician suspects an intestinal blockage, abdominal X-ray and computed tomography (CT scan) are performed to detect the location and extent of obstruction (partial or complete). Maximum cases of intestinal obstruction require hospitalization.

As mentioned already, treatment involves medication (exclusively) or surgery. As soon as a patient is admitted in the hospital, oral drugs and intravenous injections are delivered to lessen discomfort and painful symptoms.

If necessary, a tube is introduced inside the nose (that runs till the stomach) in order to absorb air and decompress the intestinal portion. For patients with urination problems, a catheter is fixed to remove urine directly from the bladder.

A partial blockage may resolve on its own, without therapeutic treatment. If required, the physician may recommend medicine for treating such a mild problem. Other nonsurgical methods to treat a partial intestinal blockage are using an expandable metal tube and infusion of liquids or gases (enemas) to clear the intestinal passage.

During the course of treatment, the patient will be kept under observation to check whether the blockage from the intestine is gone or not.

If there are no prompt results with a nonsurgical treatment, surgery is the final option. Surgery is also crucial for patients who have complete obstruction of the intestine, or the blood supply to the intestinal area is blocked, a condition called strangulation.

As a part of the procedure, the surgeon removes the blockage from the intestine. And necrotic parts (if any) in the intestinal portion are cut and healthy ends are sewn together.

After the surgical procedure, the doctor may consider colostomy for a certain time period. Under such a case, an opening is created in the skin to serve as an anus, with which the cut end of the intestine is connected. Overall, the success rate and recovery period of this treatment depends on the underlying cause of the obstruction.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be replaced for the advice of a medical professional.