Editing Large bowel obstruction (section)

== '''Presentation:''' ==

* Increased peristalsis and     low-grade colicky pain
** Late obstruction may have      decreased bowel sounds
* Acute obstructions can be     dramatic rapid-onset pain, distension and tenderness
* Chronic progressive     obstructions may describe more of increasing constipation, pencil-thin     stools, and intermittent pain
* Functional obstructions     usually have distension, vague abdominal pain, and weak or absent bowel     sounds
* Ask about weight loss,     bleeding, bowel habits, night sweats. Check for hernias and incisions.     DRE.
* Classically, a mechanical     obstruction will give a collapsed rectum, while a pseudo-obstruction will     give a capacious rectum on DRE. Also need to exclude a synchronous rectal     cancer.