digestive disorders
Intestinal Obstruction
Diagnosis of Intestinal Obstruction
A doctor's examination of the abdomen X-rays Computed tomography (CT) A doctor examines the abdomen for tenderness, swelling, or masses. When an obstruction occurs, the abdomen is almost always swollen. The sounds normally made by a functioning intestine (bowel sounds), which can be heard through a stethoscope, may be much louder and higher pitched, or they may be absent. The abdomen is usually not very tender when the doctor presses on it unless rupture has caused peritonitis. Doctors usually also do imaging studies of the abdomen, such as x-rays or a CT scan. X-Ray Studies of the Digestive Tract may show dilated loops of intestine that indicate the location of the obstruction. The x-rays also may show air around the intestine or under the layer of muscle that separates the abdomen and the chest (diaphragm). Air normally is not found in those places and thus is a sign of ruptured bowel. Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Digestive Tract of the abdomen is often used to get a better picture of the intestines and to identify the precise location and cause of the obstruction along the intestines. 