Summary
- Large bowel obstruction should always be considered a surgical emergency.
- Patient age aids the determination of the most likely cause.
- Must be quickly differentiated from pseudo-obstruction to ensure that timely and correct treatment is provided.
- Malignancy should be considered in all patients who present with large bowel obstruction.
- Bowel perforation should be suspected where there is persistent tachycardia, fever, and/or abdominal pain and tenderness.
Other related conditions
- Assessment of acute abdomen
- Cervical cancer
- Clostridium difficile-associated disease
- Colorectal cancer
- Constipation
- Crohn's disease
- Diverticular disease
- Endometriosis
- Foreign body ingestion
- Inguinal hernia
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Ischaemic bowel disease
- Ovarian cancer
- Overview of diabetes
- Sepsis
- Toxic megacolon
- Ulcerative colitis
Last updated: Apr 11, 2013
