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Characteristics of pain in bowel obstruction

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Pain is not, in general, the most prominent symptom of bowel obstruction.

The site of pain reflects the embryological origin of the piece of gut involved:

  • upper abdominal pain is due to foregut involvement: - the foregut ends at the ampulla Vater
  • mid-abdominal pain is due to midgut involvement: - the midgut ends two-thirds along the transverse colon
  • lower abdominal pain is due to hindgut involvement

The pain is usually colicky because it is caused by peristalsis trying to overcome the obstruction. If the pain is constant then this is suggestive of strangulation.

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