A small bowel obstruction is a blockage of the small intestine. In most adults, the small bowel is about 21 feet long. The bowels can become trapped outside the abdominal cavity. When blood flow to the blocked part of the bowel is cut off and the bowel wall begins to die, it is said to be strangulated. Adhesions are the major cause of small bowel obstruction.
Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form after surgery.
The adhesions grow across sections of the bowel, trapping portions. Your doctor will review your symptoms, take your medical history, and examine you. He or she will ask about previous surgeries, bowel blockages, and hernias. If your small bowel is partly blocked, the treatment may include decreasing the pressure of bowel gas by passing a tube through your nose to your stomach. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.