With more than 43 years of experience in the field of surgical Gastroenterology, Dr V. Bhaskaran is India’s most renowned and respected Gastroentologist surgeon in Chennai. He is currently located at MIOT International Hospital Chennai, India as a senior consultant and Gastroenterology surgeon. Patients from across the globe reach out to him to take medical assistance from him.
He is an active member of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) and the Indian Society of Gastroenterology. He has won Gold Medal in MS from Bangalore University in 1988. He completed his MBBS in the year 1977 from India’s eminent Madras University, Chennai. Later in 1988, he completed MS in General Surgery from Bangalore University. In the year, 2000, he completed his PhD in Gastrointestinal Surgery - AIIMS, New Delhi. He was awarded a Gold medal in MS from Banglore University in the year, 1988.
He is specialized in the field of gastroenterology. He provides treatments like Bowel Obstruction Treatment, Crohn's Disease Treatment, Transesophageal Echocardiography - TEE, Anti Reflux Procedures, Whipple and many more.
Large Bowel (Intestinal) Obstruction
A blockage of the big bowel is a medical emergency. It happens when a tumour, scar tissue, or other obstruction clogs the large intestine. The gut may burst due to gas and stool buildup. Some intestinal blockages improve with minimal hospital care. Some people require surgery.
What basically is a bowel (intestinal) obstruction?
An obstruction in the large bowel (large intestine) is a blockage that prevents gas or faeces from moving through the body. A blockage in the large intestine can develop anywhere in the gut.
The big bowel obstruction may fully or partly restrict the colon. A clogged gut may rupture, resulting in a potentially fatal illness.
What is the large bowel (large intestine)?
The big bowel, often known as the large intestine, is a component of the digestive system. It consists of the colon and the rectum.
The large intestine is essential for waste removal in the body. Food waste from the small intestine is liquid and passes into the large intestine, where it solidifies. When you defecate, you pass this solid waste as a stool.
What is the prevalence of major bowel obstructions?
Approximately 20% of all intestinal blockages are caused by large bowel obstructions. Obstructions of the small bowel are more frequent.
SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES
Large bowel blockages can affect people of all ages and genders.
Malrotation is a congenital condition that affects certain babies. The intestines do not develop normally. The intestines may twist (volvulus) as a result of this disease, resulting in a blockage.
Blockages can occur in children under the age of three due to a condition known as intussusception. One section of the intestine collapses into another segment in children with this condition (like a telescope). The collapsing portions have the potential to obstruct bowel and blood passage.
Colorectal (colon) cancer affects up to half of all people who have a major intestinal blockage. The obstruction is caused by a malignant tumour.
Other causes of adult bowel blockages include:
- Surgical adhesions (scar tissue) in the abdomen.
- Diverticulitis.
- Hernias.
- IBD is an abbreviation for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
- Abdominal or pelvic radiation treatment
- intestine twisted (rare in adults).
What are the symptoms of large bowel obstruction?
You may experience severe stomach aches that come and go in waves. The discomfort eventually becomes continuous. You may also experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain, cramping or bloating in the abdomen.
- Diarrhoea.
- Inability to defecate or pass gas (constipation).
- Appetite loss.
- Vomiting and nausea
The symptoms are the same in infants and children as they are in adults. Infants cannot express where they are in pain, but they may draw their legs up into their stomachs and wail. Other signs of a bowel blockage in a kid include:
- Fever.
- Blood in the stool (rectal bleeding).
- Vomit that is green or yellow-green.
- Lethargy.
- A swollen, hard stomach.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS
These tests may be ordered by your provider:
Blood tests are used to look for symptoms of illness and dehydration.
X-rays: Abdominal X-rays can reveal the location of a bowel obstruction. Air surrounding the gut or diaphragm can also be seen in these pictures (the muscle that separates the stomach and chest). The presence of air in these areas may suggest a dead bowel or a rupture.
CT scan: If x-rays show a problem, your clinician may recommend a CT scan. Unlike x-rays, this imaging method produces more detailed images.
A barium enema x-ray is a type of lower gastrointestinal (GI) exam. A catheter (thin tube) is inserted into the anus while you are sedated with an anaesthetic.
TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
- Large bowel obstruction treatments include:
- Dehydration is treated using IV fluids and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, and potassium).
- Medications: Anti-nausea medication and pain medications might help you feel better.
- Nasogastric tube: A long, thin tube is inserted into your nostrils by your healthcare practitioner. The tube enters the stomach or intestine. It suctions out fluids that have backed up due to the obstruction.
- Barium enema: The same endoscopic method used to discover a blockage can also be used to repair some issues, such as a twisted intestine.
- Surgery may be used to remove adhesions or tumours that are creating an obstruction. A hernia can also be repaired surgically.
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