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Bowel obstruction

10-minute read

Go to your nearest hospital emergency department straight away if you have symptoms of a bowel obstruction. Some types of bowel obstruction can lead to very serious complications and even death.

Key facts

  • A bowel obstruction (blockage) is when food and liquids can't move through your intestines (gut).
  • It can be caused by many conditions, most commonly tumours such as bowel cancer, or other health conditions, such as hernias and adhesions (scar tissue in the belly).
  • Bowel obstructions usually cause cramping abdominal pain, vomiting and inability to pass bowel motions (faeces or poo) or gas.
  • A bowel obstruction is an emergency and needs treatment in hospital to prevent serious complications.
  • You may need surgery or another procedure to remove the blockage.

What is a bowel obstruction?

Bowel obstruction (also called intestinal obstruction) is when something blocks the normal movement of food and liquids through your bowel (intestines). It can happen for a number of reasons.

There are different types of bowel obstruction. A blockage in your digestive system can be:

What are the symptoms of a bowel obstruction?

The symptoms of a bowel obstruction depend on where the blockage is and the cause.

Small bowel obstruction

Symptoms of a small bowel obstruction can start quickly. You may notice:

If your pain is severe and constant, this may mean the blockage is affecting the blood supply to your bowel.

Large bowel obstruction

Symptoms of a large bowel obstruction usually start gradually and may be less severe. You may notice:

However, in some cases a large bowel obstruction can cause sudden constant pain. It depends on what is causing the obstruction.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

When should I go to the emergency department?

Go to the emergency department straight away if you have abdominal pain and are unable to pass bowel motions or gas (wind).

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What should I do before I get to the emergency department?

It's important not to have anything to eat or drink before a doctor examines you in the emergency department.

What causes a bowel obstruction?

There are many potential causes of a bowel obstruction. Depending on your age and medical history, you might be more likely to develop certain types of bowel obstruction.

In adults, the most common causes of bowel obstruction are:

Other causes include:

What is a pseudo-obstruction?

This is different type of bowel obstruction, which is also known as a functional bowel obstruction. It happens when your bowel muscles are not contracting properly and can't push faeces along effectively, even though there is no physical blockage.

It causes the same symptoms as a mechanical (physical) bowel obstruction.

Possible causes include:

How is a bowel obstruction diagnosed?

To diagnose bowel obstruction, your doctor may:

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How is a bowel obstruction treated?

Treatment for bowel obstruction depends on the cause. You will usually need treatment and monitoring in hospital. If you think that you may have bowel obstruction don't eat or drink and go immediately to your nearest hospital.

While in hospital, you might have the following treatment:

Some people need to have surgery immediately. Some people are treated with IV fluids and medicines for 2 or 3 days and then have surgery if they are not getting better. Other people don't need surgery at all. Your doctor will discuss the likely cause of your bowel obstruction and the options for treatment.

If your obstruction is caused by bowel cancer, you might need surgery to remove the affected part of your bowel.

What are the complications of a bowel obstruction?

If your bowel stays blocked, it could lead to:

Can bowel obstructions be prevented?

Many types of bowel obstruction aren't preventable, but there are things you can do to lower the chance of your bowel becoming blocked.

Diet

If your gut is healthy, a high fibre diet is good for you. However, if you know that parts of your bowel are narrowed, you should follow a diet low in insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibre is the hard and rough part of plants that we eat, such as fruit and vegetable skin, whole grains and some nuts and seeds. This type of fibre can get stuck in narrow parts of the bowel.

You can avoid insoluble fibre by:

This type of diet can increase your risk of constipation. To prevent this, make sure to drink lots of water and get some exercise. Talk to your doctor about whether you might benefit from a laxative medicine.

Also, it is important to cook your food well, avoid tough and stringy food and chew well before swallowing.

It may be helpful to discuss your diet and nutrition with a dietitian.

Preventing causes of bowel obstruction

There are ways to prevent some of the causes of bowel obstruction.

You can lower your risk of bowel cancer by:

If you have a bowel condition such as Crohn's disease, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions to help manage the condition.

Resources and support

If you are concerned about bowel cancer, find out here about how to get a bowel screening test kit. You can also visit Bowel Cancer Australia for more information.

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.

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Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

Find videos and information about bowel cancer screening for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

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