What are the symptoms of adhesive intestinal obstruction?

Generally speaking, the area where intestinal obstruction occurs most often is the small intestine rather than the large intestine. Of course, if there is intestinal obstruction caused by foreign body, the location is uncertain. Adhesive intestinal obstruction generally refers to a situation where intestinal contents cannot pass normally due to intestinal adhesions. After adhesive intestinal obstruction occurs, defecation usually becomes very difficult. Symptoms at this time include nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, etc. Some people will experience unbearable abdominal pain as a result.

Most people who develop adhesive intestinal obstruction have had previous abdominal surgery. Some conditions can be cured through surgery, while others will recur after surgery. There is also congenital adhesive intestinal obstruction, but it is more common clinically in adhesions caused by acquired abdominal surgery.

The main clinical manifestations of adhesive intestinal obstruction are:

(1) Abdominal pain: In case of intestinal obstruction, paroxysmal abdominal colic often occurs due to increased intestinal motility. When abdominal pain occurs, patients often feel that there is gas running in the abdomen, and can see or touch the intestinal shape and hear high-pitched bowel sounds. If it is an incomplete intestinal obstruction, the pain will suddenly decrease or disappear after the gas passes through the obstruction. If the mesentery is overstretched, the pain will be continuous and worsen in paroxysmal forms.

(2) Vomiting: In high-level small intestinal obstruction, vomiting occurs earlier, is more frequent, and the amount of vomiting is larger. In low-level small intestinal obstruction and colonic obstruction, vomiting occurs later, is less frequent, and the amount of vomiting is smaller.

(3) Abdominal distension: Abdominal distension is caused by intestinal expansion during obstruction. The degree of abdominal distension varies depending on whether the obstruction is complete and the location of the obstruction. The more complete the obstruction and the lower the location, the more obvious the abdominal distension.

(4) Stop passing gas and defecation: Intestinal obstruction causes the intestinal contents to be blocked from being discharged from the body, so the anus stops passing gas and defecation. Even with complete obstruction, the patient may continue to pass gas and stool until these contents are empty. Of course, in incomplete obstruction, the phenomenon of flatulence and defecation will not completely disappear.

In addition to the above symptoms, adhesive intestinal obstruction is also accompanied by endocrine disorders. If the obstruction is severe, it may also cause intestinal necrosis and even intestinal bleeding and shock in some people. If intestinal obstruction is not treated in time, it may be life-threatening, so it is a relatively dangerous intestinal disease.