Intestinal obstruction is a condition that occurs when there is a blockage in the small or large intestine, which prevents food, fluids, and gas from passing through. The blockage can be partial or complete and may occur at any point in the intestinal tract, from the stomach to the rectum.

The most common causes of intestinal obstruction include hernias, adhesions (bands of scar tissue), tumors, impacted feces, and intussusception (telescoping of one part of the intestine into another). Other causes may include inflammatory bowel disease, infections, and radiation therapy.

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction may include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and a distended abdomen. In severe cases, the intestine may become twisted or ruptured, which can lead to infection, sepsis, and potentially life-threatening complications.

Diagnosis of intestinal obstruction may involve a comprehensive medical evaluation, including a physical examination, imaging tests such as X-ray or CT scan, and possibly a barium enema or colonoscopy to visualize the intestinal tract. Treatment for intestinal obstruction may depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition, and may include medications to reduce inflammation or relieve pain, bowel rest to allow the intestine to heal, or surgery to remove the blockage or repair the intestine.

Preventing intestinal obstruction may involve addressing underlying risk factors such as maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, and seeking prompt medical attention for conditions that may increase the risk of obstruction (such as hernias or inflammatory bowel disease). It is important for individuals with symptoms of intestinal obstruction to seek immediate medical attention, as this condition can be life-threatening if left untreated.

The most common causes of intestinal obstruction in adults are:

• Intestinal adhesions — bands of fibrous tissue in the abdominal cavity that can form after abdominal or pelvic surgery
• Hernias — portions of intestine that protrude into another part of your body
• Colon cancer

In children, the most common cause of intestinal obstruction is telescoping of the intestine (intussusception).

Other possible causes of intestinal obstruction include:

• Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease
• Diverticulitis — a condition in which small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in the digestive tract become inflamed or infected
• Twisting of the colon (volvulus)
• Impacted feces

Pseudo-obstruction

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (paralytic ileus) can cause signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction, but it doesn't involve a physical blockage. In paralytic ileus, muscle or nerve problems disrupt the normal coordinated muscle contractions of the intestines, slowing or stopping the movement of food and fluid through the digestive system.

Paralytic ileus can affect any part of the intestine. Causes can include:

• Abdominal or pelvic surgery
• Infection
• Certain medications that affect muscles and nerves, including antidepressants and opioids
• Muscle and nerve disorders, such as Parkinson's disease

Treatment for intestinal obstruction depends on the cause of your condition, but generally requires hospitalization.

Hospitalization to stabilize your condition

When you arrive at the hospital, the doctors stabilize you so that you can undergo treatment. This process may include:

• Placing an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your arm so that fluids can be given
• Putting a tube through your nose and into your stomach (nasogastric tube)to suck out air and fluid and relieve abdominal swelling
• Placing a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into your bladder to drain urine and collect it for testing

Treating intussusception

A barium or air enema is used both as a diagnostic procedure and a treatment for children with intussusception. If an enema works, further treatment is usually not necessary.

Treatment for partial obstruction

If you have an obstruction in which some food and fluid can still get through (partial obstruction), you may not need further treatment after you've been stabilized. Your doctor may recommend a special low-fiber diet that is easier for your partially blocked intestine to process. If the obstruction does not clear on its own, you may need surgery to relieve the obstruction.

Treatment for complete obstruction

If nothing is able to pass through your intestine, you'll usually need surgery to relieve the blockage. The procedure you have will depend on what's causing the obstruction and which part of your intestine is affected. Surgery typically involves removing the obstruction, as well as any section of your intestine that has died or is damaged.

Alternatively, your doctor may recommend treating the obstruction with a self-expanding metal stent. The wire mesh tube is inserted into your intestine via an endoscope passed through your mouth or colon. It forces open the intestine so that the obstruction can clear.

Stents are generally used to treat people with colon cancer or to provide temporary relief in people for whom emergency surgery is too risky. You may still need surgery, once your condition is stable.

Treatment for pseudo-obstruction

If your doctor determines that your signs and symptoms are caused by pseudo-obstruction (paralytic ileus), he or she may monitor your condition for a day or two in the hospital, and treat the cause if it's known. Paralytic ileus can get better on its own. In the meantime, you'll likely be given food through a nasogastric tube or an IV to prevent malnutrition.

If paralytic ileus doesn't improve on its own, your doctor may prescribe medication that causes muscle contractions, which can help move food and fluids through your intestines. If paralytic ileus is caused by an illness or medication, the doctor will treat the underlying illness or stop the medication. Rarely, surgery may be needed.

In cases where the colon is enlarged, a treatment called decompression may provide relief. Decompression can be done with colonoscopy, a procedure in which a thin tube is inserted into your anus and guided into the colon. Decompression can also be done through surgery.