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Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical features of intestinal obstruction include:

  • pain - usually cramping; constant pain suggests strangulation
  • vomiting - early with high obstructions, late in low cases
  • constipation - faeces and flatus
  • distension - especially with low obstructions

Radiography may reveal:

  • distended bowel - either large or small, with air fluid levels
  • no abnormality - closed loop obstruction

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