What are the symptoms of intestinal obstruction after cesarean section

Nowadays, many pregnant women give birth through caesarean section, which reduces the pain of childbirth. However, it does not mean that caesarean section is necessarily healthier and safer. Many pregnant women have experienced intestinal obstruction after caesarean section. At this time, patients who first understand this disease receive timely treatment and care to ensure that their bodies recover quickly. On the contrary, those who don’t know much about it will have a good understanding of the symptoms of intestinal obstruction after cesarean section. Therefore, it is very necessary to understand the symptoms of intestinal obstruction after cesarean section.

The key to intestinal obstruction is early detection and timely medical treatment. The four most common symptoms of intestinal obstruction are abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension, and cessation of anal gas and bowel movements. "Experts pointed out that when mechanical intestinal obstruction occurs, it may be accompanied by intestinal sounds, as if there is a "gas block" moving in the abdomen and blocked in a certain part. In the early stage of intestinal obstruction, vomiting is reflexive, and the vomitus is food or gastric juice. Eating or drinking water can cause vomiting. After that, vomiting varies with the height of the obstruction. Generally, the higher the obstruction site, the earlier and more frequent the vomiting occurs.

1. Abdominal pain: Most patients with intestinal obstruction have abdominal pain. In patients with acute complete mechanical small bowel obstruction, abdominal pain manifests as paroxysmal colic. It is caused by strong peristalsis of the intestine above the obstruction site. Mostly located in the middle abdomen. Often occurs suddenly. Gradually intensifies to a peak, lasts for a few minutes, and then eases. The interval period can be completely painless, but it can recur after a period of time. The degree of colic and the length of the intervals vary depending on the height of the obstruction and the severity of the disease.

2. Vomiting: Almost all patients with intestinal obstruction will vomit. In the early stage, it is reflex vomiting, and the vomiting is mostly gastric contents. In the later stage, it is reflux vomiting, which varies depending on the location of the obstruction. The higher the location, the more frequent and severe the vomiting. In case of low small intestinal obstruction, vomiting is milder and less frequent. In case of colon obstruction, there may be no vomiting in the early stage because the ileocecal valve can prevent reflux. However, in the later stage, when the ileocecal valve does not close completely due to overfilling of the intestinal cavity, there will be more severe vomiting and the vomit may contain fecal juice.

3. Abdominal distension: Abdominal distension is a symptom that appears later, and its degree is related to the site of obstruction. High small intestinal obstruction often does not cause obvious abdominal distension due to frequent vomiting; low small intestinal obstruction or colon obstruction in the late stage often causes significant abdominal distension. The intestinal segment in closed loop obstruction is very distended, often with asymmetric local distension. In paralytic ileus, the entire intestinal tract is dilated and enlarged, so the abdominal distension is significant.

4. Constipation and cessation of flatulence: In case of complete intestinal obstruction, the patient’s bowel movements and flatulence disappear. However, in the first 2 to 3 days of high small intestinal obstruction, if feces and gas accumulate in the intestinal cavity below the obstruction, defecation and gas discharge may still occur, which cannot deny the existence of complete obstruction. Similarly, in cases of strangulated intestinal obstruction such as intestinal volvulus, intussusception, and intestinal obstruction caused by colon cancer, bloody or bloody stools may still be discharged.

The above content introduces the symptoms of intestinal obstruction after cesarean section. Through the above content, everyone should have a better understanding of the symptoms of the disease, and can receive timely treatment and care if encountered. Ensure that the body recovers as soon as possible and avoids many problems that cause great trouble during later treatment.