Mechanical Bowel Obstruction and Ileus - Pathogenesis and Clinical Findings Ileus: Functional bowel "blockage", no peristalsis Mechanical Obstruction: Physical blockage of bowel lumen Complete obstructions typically presents with acute abdominal pain and related symptoms. Incomplete obstructions can present with either acute or chronic abdominal pain • Obstipation (no flatus). no bowel-movements (suggests complete obstruction) • Infrequent bowel movements (partial obstruction) • Bloating. cramping, anorexia • Diffuse, visceral abdominal pain • Flat/low JVP, resting tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension • Abdominal Pain: may come in waves. and can be severe (i.e. "light-switch pain") with complete obstruction • Hyperactive bowel sounds (before a physical obstruction), OR absent bowel sounds (ileus) • Abdomen is tympanic to percussion • Nausea/vomiting (worse with duodenal or jejunal obstruction because of proximity of obstruction) #bowel #obstruction #sbo #ileus #pathophysiology
