Intestinal Obstruction Mechanisms in Adults
Summary
Intestinal obstruction in adults arises when the normal passage of luminal contents is halted or restricted by mechanical or functional factors. Mechanical causes include luminal blockade by masses or strictures, extrinsic compression from adhesions, hernias or neoplasms, and twisting of the bowel in volvulus. Functional obstruction may result from impaired coordinated peristalsis. The most frequent aetiologies are postoperative adhesions, malignant tumours, hernias, volvulus and inflammatory strictures in conditions such as Crohn’s disease. Pathophysiologically, obstruction leads to proximal dilation, increased intraluminal pressure, compromised mucosal perfusion and risk of ischaemia, perforation and sepsis. In intussusception, a segment of bowel invaginates into an adjacent segment, often driven by a discrete lead point. Early differentiation between simple obstruction and strangulation is critical for management, which ranges from endoscopic decompression to surgical reduction or resection. Advances in cross-sectional imaging and minimally invasive techniques have enhanced diagnostic precision and broadened therapeutic options, informing tailored interventions to reduce global morbidity and optimise patient outcomes.
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Intestinal Obstruction Mechanisms in Adults publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in intestinal obstruction mechanisms in adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adhesion: Fibrous band between bowel loops or organs that can tether and obstruct the intestine.
Intussusception: Telescoping of a proximal segment of intestine into a distal segment, often driven by a pathological lead point.
Volvulus: Twisting of a bowel segment around its mesenteric axis, resulting in luminal obstruction and potential vascular compromise.
Lead point: A focal lesion, such as a tumour or polyp, that initiates intussusception by dragging one segment of bowel into another.
Ischaemia: Insufficient blood supply to the bowel wall due to increased intraluminal pressure or vascular occlusion, risking necrosis.
Stricture: Localised narrowing of the bowel lumen, caused by inflammatory, neoplastic or postoperative scar tissue.
Motility disorder: Impaired coordinated muscular contractions of the bowel leading to functional obstruction without a mechanical lesion.
References
- Combined Ileoileal and Ileocolic Intussusception Secondary to Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp in an Adult: A Case Report. Medicina (2022).
- Adult Jejuno-jejunal intussusception due to inflammatory fibroid polyp. Medicine (2020).
- Adult Intussusception: A Retrospective Review. World Journal of Surgery (2014).
About these summaries
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