Bowel Obstruction as a Surgical Concern: A Guide for Medical Students

Bowel obstruction is a common and serious condition that requires timely diagnosis and management. This guide outlines key aspects of bowel obstruction relevant to surgical practice, including etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, classification, complications, and treatment.
Etiology
Bowel obstruction can occur due to mechanical or functional causes:
- Mechanical causes:
Adhesions: Postoperative adhesions are the most common cause of small bowel obstruction.
Hernias: Abdominal wall hernias can lead to strangulation or obstruction.
Tumors: Colorectal cancer is a frequent cause of large bowel obstruction.
Volvulus: Twisting of the bowel, typically in the sigmoid colon or cecum.
Intussusception: Seen mostly in children, when a segment of the bowel telescopes into another.
- Functional causes:
Paralytic ileus: Often post-surgical, where the bowel loses peristaltic activity.
Pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome): Acute dilation without a mechanical cause.
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