Bowel Obstruction Repair

What is bowel obstruction repair?

Bowel obstruction repair is surgery to remove or relieve an obstructed part of the bowel. Bowel obstruction repair is also called intestinal obstruction repair. A bowel obstruction blocks the passage of stool and gas through your intestines. A bowel obstruction is a serious, possibly life-threatening condition that requires prompt treatment.

The bowel is the part of the digestive tract that absorbs nutrients from the foods we eat. The residue of digested food passes through the bowel forming stool. Stool passes out of the body during the final stage of digestion. A bowel obstruction interrupts or halts this process. Symptoms include a distended abdomen, fullness, painful spasms, constipation, not passing gas, diarrhea, nausea with or without vomiting, and foul-smelling breath.

Bowel obstruction repair is a major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. In some cases, you may have less invasive treatment options. Options vary depending on the location, extent or type of bowel obstruction. You should consider getting a second opinion about all your treatment choices before having bowel obstruction repair.

Other surgical procedures that may be performed

In some cases, the obstruction can cut off the blood supply to part of the intestine. This can permanently damage the intestine. In this case, your surgeon may need to remove the damaged part of the intestine and reattach the healthy sections of the intestine. If your surgeon cannot reconnect the healthy parts of intestine, he or she will bring the end of the intestine through the abdominal wall to the skin. This creates an opening, called an ileostomy or a colostomy. The ileum is the last part of the small intestine before the colon begins. Stool will leave the body through the opening into a collection bag. This is usually temporary and when your intestines heal, your surgeon can take down the stoma and put the bowels back together again.

Why is bowel obstruction repair performed?

A bowel obstruction repair is a major surgery. Your doctor may recommend this surgery to treat certain types of bowel obstruction. Your doctor may only consider surgical repair of the bowel if other treatment options that involve less risk of complications have been ineffective. Talk with your doctor about all of your treatment options and consider getting a second opinion.

A physical (mechanical) blockage in the intestine can cause a bowel obstruction. Causes of a mechanical blockage include:

• Foreign bodies. Foreign bodies are more likely to be the cause of bowel obstruction in children than adults.
• Gallstones. In some cases, a gallstone can wear away the gallbladder wall and travel into the small intestine.
• Hernia, which is when organ or other structure bulges through a weak part of tissue or muscle outside its normal place
• Impacted stool, such as from chronic constipation
• Scar tissue from past abdominal surgeries. This is the most common reason for an intestinal blockage.
• Tumors. A tumor in any part of the intestine or other nearby structure can block the passage of stool.
• Volvulus, or twisting of the intestines. Volvulus in children is often due to a birth defect of the intestine.

An ileus is another type of bowel obstruction. An ileus occurs when the bowels stop moving and pushing digested food through your intestine. Causes of ileus include:

• Appendicitis, an inflammation or infection of the appendix
• Certain drugs and medications, such as opioids and sedatives, which slow down peristalsis. Peristalsis is the series of contractions that propel food through the digestive tract.
• Electrolyte imbalances. An electrolyte imbalance can be caused by chronic vomiting or diarrhea.
• Gastroenteritis, an inflammation or infection of the stomach and intestines
• Obstruction of the mesenteric artery, which supplies blood to the abdomen
• Surgical complications. A complication of bowel surgery is ileus. In most cases, bowel obstruction is temporary, but it can persist in some cases.