How can I reduce the risk of another small bowel obstruction?
Ask the doctor
Q. I was recently in the hospital for 10 days and told I had an obstruction in my small intestine. They did not have to do surgery, but the pain was severe. How can I prevent this from happening again?
A. A small bowel obstruction (blockage) can be either partial or complete. A partial obstruction means that there is at least a small opening in the blockage and some fluid is getting through. With a complete blockage, doctors usually move quickly toward surgery. I suspect you had a partial obstruction.
The most common cause of small bowel obstruction is scarring (called adhesions) within the belly, usually from prior surgeries. Some people form excess scar tissue no matter how carefully surgery is performed. The scar tissue binds to a section of bowel, closing it down.
Less commonly, a hernia that traps part of the small intestine or a twisted loop of bowel can do this. Because you improved without surgery, there is unlikely to be a tumor that caused it.
People who form adhesions that cause small bowel obstruction should avoid surgery to cut away the adhesions unless necessary. The surgery can cause even more adhesions to form.
I usually advise people to stay primarily on a liquid diet for a few days after they leave the hospital. You likely still have some partial blockage. Going right to solid food might cause the pain to come back. Gradually add low-fiber foods as you move toward a regular diet.
Image: © Ekaterina Goncharova/Getty Images
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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