INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION

Management

Depending on the clinical circumstances, it may be appropriate to see whether small bowel obstruction will relieve without surgery. 

During the postoperative period, up to 5 days' observation has been shown to be safe1. 

Strangulation is indicated by one or more classical signs2: 

Signs of strangulation of the bowel:

  1. rapid pulse

  2. localised tenderness or pain

  3. raised White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

  4. fever

Serial Computed Tomography (C-T) is the diagnostic imaging method of choice to signal the need for intervention before strangulation of the bowel occurs3.