If you have abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or trouble passing gas or stool (poop), it could be a sign of a bowel obstruction or abdominal adhesion. These conditions affect your digestive system and may require prompt care.
At Banner Health, our care teams listen carefully, find the cause of your symptoms and create a treatment plan that fits your life.
A bowel obstruction, also called an intestinal blockage, is when the small or large intestine is partially or completely blocked. This prevents food, fluids and gas from moving through your digestive system.
A bowel blockage can be mild or severe. Some block only part of the intestine while others completely block it, stopping anything from passing through. A complete obstruction is a medical emergency. In rare cases, you might have symptoms similar to a bowel blockage without actually having one. This is called pseudo-obstruction.
Symptoms may start mild and worsen over time.
Common symptoms:
Warning signs of severe blockage:
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you notice these severe symptoms.
Bowel obstructions happen when the intestines are partially or completely blocked. Common causes include:
Other causes:
Abdominal adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form inside the belly and pelvis. These bands can cause tissues that are normally separate to stick together. Adhesions can stick to other parts of the bowel or to other areas in the abdomen, including the abdominal wall.
When adhesions affect the intestines they can twist or pull the bowel, sometimes causing a blockage. In fact, adhesions are the most common cause of small bowel blockages in adults.
Adhesions may not cause symptoms. Many people have them without knowing it. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
If you’ve had surgery and now notice new or worsening belly pain, contact your health care provider.
Scar tissue forms as part of the healing process after abdominal surgery. But sometimes, this scar tissue sticks organs or tissues together when they should move freely. When this happens in your abdomen, it can pull on your intestines or twist them.
Other causes may include:
Your health care provider will use a combination of your medical history, a physical exam and sometimes imaging tests to make a diagnosis.
Your provider may:
Imaging tests help specialists identify the location and severity of the blockage. These may include:
Treatment depends on the cause, severity and whether the obstruction is partial or complete.
Many people with bowel obstruction need hospital care. Treatment may include:
For some partial obstructions, these measures give the bowel time to rest and may avoid surgery.
Surgery may be needed if:
During surgery, the surgeon may resolve the blockage by:
Recovery depends on your treatment:
During recovery, you may need to:
Your care team will give clear instructions and support throughout recovery. They will also discuss ways to reduce the risk of future problems, including managing constipation and following post-surgery instructions.
Contact your health care provider if you:
Seek emergency care immediately if you have:
Bowel obstruction can become life-threatening without prompt care.
Yes. Complete blockages or those that stop blood flow are emergencies. Early treatment reduces complications.
No. Adhesions usually remain unless surgery is needed for symptoms or complications.
Sometimes. Surgery can relieve the blockage but scar tissue may return. Your surgeon will discuss the risks.
If you have ongoing abdominal pain, bloating or changes in bowel habits, don’t ignore your symptoms. Schedule an appointment with a Banner Health specialist.
At Banner Health, you receive care from experienced gastroenterologists, surgeons and emergency medicine providers who work together as a team. We offer advanced imaging, minimally invasive surgical options and support before, during and after treatment.
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