What it means
Something that blocks the normal flow through a tube. Airway obstruction can come from choking, swelling or the tongue falling back. Bowel obstruction can come from scar tissue, a twisted bowel, a hernia or a tumor. Urinary obstruction can come from an enlarged prostate or stones. Catheters and feeding tubes can also become obstructed.
For the nurse
For a client with a suspected bowel obstruction, keep them NPO, watch for vomiting and a swollen belly, and prepare for a nasogastric tube as ordered.
At a glance
| Spanish | obstrucción |
|---|---|
| Also written | obstructions, obstructed, obstructing |
Related terms
airway
The passages that carry air into and out of the lungs, from the nose and mouth to the smallest air tubes.
intestine
The long tube of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus, made up of the small and large intestine.
obstructive sleep apnea
A sleep disorder in which the upper airway closes again and again during sleep, stopping or reducing breathing.
ileus
A slowing or stopping of the normal movement of the intestines, with nothing physically blocking them.
stenosis
Narrowing of a passage or opening in the body, such as a blood vessel, heart valve or the spinal canal.