what causes an obstruction of the intestine?

Answer 1

Intestinal obstruction involves a partial or complete blockage of the bowel that results in the failure of the intestinal contents to pass through.


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Obstruction of the bowel may be caused by ileus -- in which the bowel doesn't function correctly but there is no "mechanical" (anatomic) problem -- or by mechanical causes. Paralytic ileus, also called pseudo-obstruction, is one of the major causes of obstruction in infants and children.

The causes of paralytic ileus may include the following:

Medications, especially narcotics
Intraperitoneal infection
Mesenteric ischemia (decreased blood supply to the support structures in the abdomen)
Injury to the abdominal blood supply
Complications of intra-abdominal surgery
Kidney or thoracic disease
Metabolic disturbances (such as decreased potassium levels)
Paralytic ileus may lead to complications causing jaundice and electrolyte imbalances. In the newborn, paralytic ileus that is associated with destruction of the bowel wall (necrotizing enterocolitis) is life-threatening and may lead to infection in the infant's blood and lungs.

In older children, gastroenteritis may be a cause of paralytic ileus, which is sometimes associated with peritonitis and a ruptured appendix.

Paralytic ileus is marked by abdominal distention, absent bowel sounds (no noise heard when listening to abdomen) and relatively little pain (as compared to mechanical obstruction).

Mechanical obstruction occurs when movement of material through the intestines is physically blocked. The mechanical causes of obstruction are numerous and may include the following:

Hernias
Postoperative adhesions or scar tissue
Impacted feces (stool)
Gallstones
Tumors blocking the intestines
Granulomatous processes (abnormal tissue growth)
Intussusception
Volvulus (twisted intestine)
Foreign bodies (ingested materials that obstruct the intestines)

Answer 2

Many conditions can cause intestinal obstruction. The causes often differ, however, depending on whether the obstruction occurs in the small intestine or in the colon. When intestinal obstruction is referred to as "mechanical," it means something is physically blocking the intestine. Blockage of the intestine can be partial or complete. Signs and symptoms of paralytic ileus -a condition in which the intestines don't function properly - may be similar, but no physical obstruction is paralytic ileus- a condition in which the intestines don't function properly
— may be similar, but no physical obstruction is present.

Mechanical obstruction of the small intestine
Common causes of mechanical obstruction in the small intestine include the following:

Intestinal adhesions. These bands of fibrous tissue in the intestines may be present at birth (congenital). But, more often, they form after abdominal surgery. Intestinal adhesions can bind sections of your intestine, blocking the passage of food and fluids.
Hernias. Hernias occur when part of your intestine protrudes into another part of your body. If a loop of intestine becomes trapped due to a hernia, it will cause intestinal obstruction.
Tumors. A tumor within your small intestine may block the passage of food and fluids, causing obstruction.
Adhesions, hernias and tumors account for about 90 percent of cases of mechanical small intestine obstruction. Other causes include:

Telescoping of a portion of the intestine into another portion (intussusception)
Twisting of the intestine (volvulus)
Narrowing of the outlet from the stomach (stricture)
Mechanical obstruction of the colon
Mechanical intestinal obstruction in the colon is less common than in the small intestine. Only 10 percent to 15 percent of mechanical obstruction occurs in the colon. Adhesions and hernias rarely cause obstruction in the colon. The most common causes of colonic obstruction include the following:

Cancer
Diverticulitis — a condition in which small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in the digestive tract become inflamed or infected
Twisting of the colon (volvulus)
Less common causes of intestinal obstruction in the colon include:

Telescoping of a portion of the colon into another portion (intussusception)
Impacted feces
Narrowing of the colon (stricture)
Foreign bodies (swallowed objects that block the colon)

Paralytic ileus
Paralytic ileus, or pseudo-obstruction, can cause signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction. In paralytic ileus, although there is no blockage, the intestines don't function properly; movement of the intestines is greatly reduced or absent. The intestines are unable to move food and fluid smoothly through the digestive system.

Paralytic ileus can affect any part of the intestine. The most common cause of paralytic ileus is abdominal surgery. Right after abdominal surgery, the intestines don't function normally. A nasogastric (NG) tube and intravenous fluids are often necessary until the intestines begin to function again. Postoperative paralytic ileus is not a form of mechanical obstruction.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Could be crohns disease where the intestine gets an irritation/raw spot and basically swells shut.

Answer 5

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