Editing Small bowel obstruction (section)

== '''Classification''' ==

* Simple or strangulating
** Strangulation usually involves a closed loop obstruction with a compromised vascular supply, and can lead to intestinal infarction
** All known clinical parameters are non-sensitive and non-specific
* High or low
* Partial or complete
** Gastrografin in colon within 24hrs indicates partial, if it is not possible to confirm obstipation from patient
** Also see whether any gas in colon/rectum
* Low-grade or high-grade
* Closed loop
** Both ends of a segment of bowel are obstructed, either by an adhesive band or an internal hernia, which may result in ischaemia and necrosis
** Look for a U loop or coffee bean sign with tapering of both ends of bowel, and volvulus (mesenteric whirl)