Intestinal obstruction repair

Alternative names:

intestinal blockage repair; intussusception - reduction of; reduction of intussusception; repair of volvulus; volvulus repair

Definition:

Surgery to relieve a bowel obstruction. Complete intestinal obstruction, no matter what the cause, is a surgical emergency. When a blockage (obstruction) occurs in the bowel (intestine), stool is unable to move through the bowel. Gas is trapped within the bowel, causing swelling, restricting normal blood flow, and causing portions of the bowel to die. The inside of the bowel normally contains many bacteria that serve to help digest foods. When portions of the bowel die, the bowel wall can leak fluids and bacteria out into the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), causing a severe infection (peritonitis).

Intestinal obstruction can result from several causes, such as:

• telescoping of a portion of bowel into another portion (intussusception)
• twisting or kinking of the bowel (volvulus)
• band of fibrous or scar tissue
• tumors or cysts
• swallowed objects (foreign bodies)

Description:

While the child is deep asleep and pain-free (using general anesthesia), an incision is made in the abdomen. The bowel obstruction site is located, the obstruction is relieved, and the bowel is examined for injury. Injured sections are removed and the healthy ends of the bowel are either stitched together or brought out onto the abdomen temporarily (colostomy).

Indications:

Surgery is necessary when an intestinal obstruction is present.

Intussusception has the highest incidence in infant boys between the ages of four and eight months.

Intestinal obstruction is suspected if the child has experienced sudden, severe abdominal pain, blood and mucous in his stool, and vomiting. Abdominal X-rays are usually taken to confirm the diagnosis. A barium enema may be used for diagnosis. This procedure is sometimes successful in correcting the problem. If intussusception is diagnosed and not corrected by barium enema, surgery is necessary IMMEDIATELY to prevent complications such as obstruction, gangrenous bowel and peritonitis.