BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuIntestinal or bowel obstruction - dischargeRepair of volvulus - discharge; Reduction of intussusception - discharge; Release of adhesions - discharge; Hernia repair - discharge; Tumor resection - dischargeYou were in the hospital because you had a blockage in your bowel (intestine). This condition is called an intestinal obstruction. The blockage may have been partial or total (complete).Intestinal obstructionIntestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel. The contents of the intestine cannot pass through it.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This article describes what to expect after surgery and how to take care of yourself at home.When You're in the HospitalWhile in the hospital, you received intravenous (IV) fluids. You also may have had a tube placed through your nose and into your stomach. You may have received antibiotics.IntravenousIntravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you did not have surgery, your health care providers slowly began to give you liquids by mouth, and then food.If you needed surgery, you may have had part of your large or small intestine removed. Your surgeon may have been able to sew the healthy ends of your intestines back together. You may also have had an ileostomy or a colostomy.IleostomyAn ileostomy is used to move waste out of the body. This surgery is done when the colon or rectum is not working properly. The word "ileostomy" come...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ColostomyColostomy is a surgical procedure that brings one end of the large intestine out through an opening (stoma) made in the abdominal wall. Stools movin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If a tumor or cancer caused the blockage in your intestine, your surgeon may have removed it. Or, it may have been bypassed by routing your intestine around it.TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article CancerCancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What to Expect at HomeIf you had surgery:The outcome is usually good if the obstruction is treated before tissue damage or tissue death occurs in the bowel. Some people may have more bowel obstructions in the future.If you did not have surgery:Your symptoms may be completely gone. Or, you may still have some discomfort, and your stomach may still feel bloated. There is a chance your intestine may become blocked again.Self-careFollow instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.Eat small amounts of food several times a day. Do not eat 3 large meals. You should:Space out your small meals. Add new foods back into your diet slowly. Take sips of clear liquids throughout the day.Some foods may cause gas, loose stools, or constipation as you recover. Avoid foods that cause these problems.If you become sick to your stomach or have diarrhea, avoid solid foods for a while and try drinking only clear fluids.Your surgeon may want you to limit exercise or strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Ask your surgeon what activities are OK for you to do.If you have had an ileostomy or a colostomy, a nurse will tell you how to care for it.When to Call the DoctorContact your surgeon if you have:Vomiting or nausea Vomiting or nauseaNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diarrhea that does not go away DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pain that does not go away or is getting worse A swollen or tender belly Little or no gas or stools to pass Fever or chills ChillsChills refers to feeling cold after being in a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering along with paleness and feeling ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood in your stoolBlood in your stoolThe stool guaiac test looks for hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. It is a common type ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesGalandiuk S, Netz U, Morpurgo E, Tosato SM, Abu-Freha N, Ellis CT. Colon and rectum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 52.Mustain WC, Turnage RH. Intestinal obstruction. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 123.AllVideoImagesTogSmall bowel resection - seriesPresentation Large bowel resection - seriesPresentation Small bowel resection - seriesPresentation Large bowel resection - seriesPresentation A Closer Look Gallstones and gallbladder disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Related Information Intestinal obstruction repair(Surgery)Getting out of bed after surgery(Self-Care)Low-fiber diet(Self-Care)Changing your ostomy pouch(Self-Care)Full liquid diet(Self-Care)Wet-to-dry dressing changes(Self-Care) Review Date: 9/30/2024 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Intestinal or bowel obstruction - dischargeRepair of volvulus - discharge; Reduction of intussusception - discharge; Release of adhesions - discharge; Hernia repair - discharge; Tumor resection - dischargeYou were in the hospital because you had a blockage in your bowel (intestine). This condition is called an intestinal obstruction. The blockage may have been partial or total (complete).Intestinal obstructionIntestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel. The contents of the intestine cannot pass through it.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This article describes what to expect after surgery and how to take care of yourself at home.When You're in the HospitalWhile in the hospital, you received intravenous (IV) fluids. You also may have had a tube placed through your nose and into your stomach. You may have received antibiotics.IntravenousIntravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you did not have surgery, your health care providers slowly began to give you liquids by mouth, and then food.If you needed surgery, you may have had part of your large or small intestine removed. Your surgeon may have been able to sew the healthy ends of your intestines back together. You may also have had an ileostomy or a colostomy.IleostomyAn ileostomy is used to move waste out of the body. This surgery is done when the colon or rectum is not working properly. The word "ileostomy" come...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ColostomyColostomy is a surgical procedure that brings one end of the large intestine out through an opening (stoma) made in the abdominal wall. Stools movin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If a tumor or cancer caused the blockage in your intestine, your surgeon may have removed it. Or, it may have been bypassed by routing your intestine around it.TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article CancerCancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What to Expect at HomeIf you had surgery:The outcome is usually good if the obstruction is treated before tissue damage or tissue death occurs in the bowel. Some people may have more bowel obstructions in the future.If you did not have surgery:Your symptoms may be completely gone. Or, you may still have some discomfort, and your stomach may still feel bloated. There is a chance your intestine may become blocked again.Self-careFollow instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.Eat small amounts of food several times a day. Do not eat 3 large meals. You should:Space out your small meals. Add new foods back into your diet slowly. Take sips of clear liquids throughout the day.Some foods may cause gas, loose stools, or constipation as you recover. Avoid foods that cause these problems.If you become sick to your stomach or have diarrhea, avoid solid foods for a while and try drinking only clear fluids.Your surgeon may want you to limit exercise or strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Ask your surgeon what activities are OK for you to do.If you have had an ileostomy or a colostomy, a nurse will tell you how to care for it.When to Call the DoctorContact your surgeon if you have:Vomiting or nausea Vomiting or nauseaNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diarrhea that does not go away DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pain that does not go away or is getting worse A swollen or tender belly Little or no gas or stools to pass Fever or chills ChillsChills refers to feeling cold after being in a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering along with paleness and feeling ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood in your stoolBlood in your stoolThe stool guaiac test looks for hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. It is a common type ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesGalandiuk S, Netz U, Morpurgo E, Tosato SM, Abu-Freha N, Ellis CT. Colon and rectum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 52.Mustain WC, Turnage RH. Intestinal obstruction. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 123.
