What does loops of bowel mean?

What does loops of bowel mean?

Closed loop bowel obstruction is a specific type of mechanical obstruction in which a segment of the bowel is obstructed at two points along its course at a single location, thus forming a closed loop. Usually this is due to adhesions, a twist of mesentery or internal hernias.

Would a bowel obstruction show up on CT scan?

Computerized tomography (CT). A CT scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images. These images are more detailed than a standard X-ray, and are more likely to show an intestinal obstruction.

Can an ultrasound detect bowel problems?

Over the past few years, thanks to technological progress in ultrasonography, followed by increasing experience of physicians, intestinal ultrasound has become an important diagnostic tool in the detection of bowel diseases.

What does fluid filled small bowel loops mean?

Furthermore, the presence of a large amount of fluid between dilated small bowel loops suggests worsening mechanical small bowel obstruction, that requires not a medical therapy but immediate surgery.

How do you treat small bowel loops?

Treatment includes intravenous (in the vein) fluids, bowel rest with nothing to eat (NPO), and, sometimes, bowel decompression through a nasogastric tube (a tube that is inserted into the nose and goes directly to the stomach). Anti-emetics: Medications may be required to relieve nausea and vomiting.

What does a bowel obstruction look like on a CT scan?

Bowel obstruction is considered to be present at CT when distended bowel loops are seen proximal to collapsed loops. When a point of transition from dilated small bowel to normal-caliber bowel without apparent cause is identified, adhesions are the presumed cause (,Figs 1, ,2).

Do polyps show up on ultrasound?

Although ultrasound is clearly not one of the widely accepted screening techniques, this non-invasive and radiation-free modality is also capable of detecting colonic polyps, both benign and malignant. Such colon lesions may be encountered when not expected, usually during general abdominal sonography.

What causes dilated loops of small bowel?

Causes of SBO like bezoars, intussusception, Crohn disease, and tumors can be depicted with this method (,Fig 3). Obstruction associated with external hernias is ideal for sonographic detection in that dilated loops of intestine may be traced to a portion of the gut with normal caliber but abnormal position (,22).

Can polyps be missed on ultrasound?

SAN DIEGO — Almost half of endometrial polyps seen on sonohysterography were missed on transvaginal ultrasound, results from a large single-center study showed.

What is a dilated bowel loop?

In patients with small bowel obstruction, supine views show dilation of multiple loops of small bowel, with a paucity of air in the large bowel (Figure 2). Those with large bowel obstruction may have dilation of the colon, with decompressed small bowel in the setting of a competent ileocecal valve.