What it means
A blockage in the intestines. It can be mechanical, where something blocks the bowel, such as scar tissue (adhesions) from past surgery, a hernia, a tumor or a twisted bowel. It can also be a paralytic ileus, where the bowel stops moving although nothing is blocking it, as after surgery or with some drugs. Fluid and gas build up above the blockage, and the bowel can lose its blood supply.
For the nurse
Expect NPO, IV fluids and a nasogastric tubenay-zoh-GAS-trik toobA thin, flexible tube passed through the nose and down the esophagus into the stomach.nas/o nosegastr/o stomach-ic having to do withFull entry to suction to rest the bowel. Track intake and output, check the belly and bowel sounds, and report fever, worsening pain or a hard belly.
At a glance
| Spanish | obstrucción intestinal |
|---|---|
| Also written | intestinal obstruction, intestinal obstructions |
Related terms
nasogastric tube
A thin, flexible tube passed through the nose and down the esophagus into the stomach.
constipation
Bowel movements that happen less often than usual, with hard, dry stool that is difficult to pass.
perforation
A hole that goes all the way through the wall of an organ or tissue.
peritonitis
Inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin membrane that lines the inside of the belly and covers the organs there.