Bowel Obstruction Treatments

Treatment

Bowel obstructions can be serious, even fatal. If your doctor thinks you may have a bowel obstruction, you will be hospitalized and treated. Your treatment will depend on what part of your bowel is blocked and what is causing the blockage.

Possible treatments include the following:

• Nasogastric tube—This involves the passage of a narrow tube through your nose and down into the stomach to suction out fluids that have become trapped above the blockage
• Intravenous (IV) fluids—Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration and imbalances in your body fluids; if you are dehydrated, you will be given fluids and electrolytes (potassium and sodium) through a needle into one of your veins.
• Medications—You may be given antibiotics or pain medication through an IV or through the naso-gastric tube.
• Removal of fecal impaction—If fecal matter is causing the obstruction, it can be removed; your doctor will insert a gloved finger into your rectum to loosen and remove the feces.
• Endoscopy—A thin, lighted tube is inserted through the rectum and into the large intestine to straighten out the intestines.
• Surgery—Depending on the cause of the obstruction, you may need surgery; surgery can:
  • Remove scar tissue, tumors, gallstones , foreign matter, and other causes of the blockages
  • Repair hernias

During surgery, the blocked part of the bowel may be removed. The remaining sections will then be joined together. You will probably need a nasogastric tube temporarily after surgery. In addition, you may need antibiotics and pain medication during recovery.

If you are diagnosed with a mechanical bowel obstruction, follow your doctor's instructions .