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Investigations

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Tests indicated for small bowel obstruction include:

  • blood urea and electrolytes
  • white cell count
  • radiology:
    • supine: obstructive picture of dilated small bowel
    • sitting: multiple air/fluid levels in obstruction
    • to distguish the site:
      • obstructed jejenum shows transverse markings running right across the bowel
      • in the ileum the markings are absent
      • in large bowel obstruction, the haustral markings do not go right across the bowel

Generally, barium meal and enema are contraindicated.

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