title: Bowel obstruction and hernia.
abstract: Bowel obstruction and abdominal hernia are commonly observed in patients seeking emergency care for abdominal pain. This article discusses bowel obstruction, adynamic ileus, acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, and abdominal hernias, with particular emphasis on the management of patients in the emergency department (ED). Although the diagnostic approach to bowel obstruction often requires imaging, abdominal hernia may be identified in most circumstances by history and physical examination alone. Urgent surgical consultation is indicated when there is a concern for bowel ischemia, strangulation, or complete obstruction. This article reviews an ED-based approach to the patient presenting with symptoms of bowel obstruction or hernia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. geoffhayden@gmail.com
authors.forename: Geoffrey E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hayden
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sprouse
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*