Paralytic Ileus or Bowel Obstruction

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Definition of an Ileus Paralytic Ileus, also called bowel obstruction, intestinal volvulus (twisted intestine) and colonic ileus is a life-threatening mechanical or non-mechanical, partial or complete blockage of the small and/or large intestine and can be fatal if not treated. Ileus comes from the Latin word for colic. (“Ileus” Tish Davidson, A. (thinksp) M. and Rebecca J. Frey, PhD the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Laurie J. Fndukian. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 6 vols). If left untreated, intestinal obstruction can cause serious, life-threatening complications, including: • Tissue death. Intestinal obstruction can cut off the blood supply to part of your intestine. Lack of blood causes the intestinal wall to die. Tissue death can result in a tear (perforation) in the intestinal wall, which can lead to infection. • Infection. Peritonitis is the medical term for infection in the abdominal cavity. It's a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical and often surgical attention. (Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 4th Ed, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter) Paralytic Ileuses can occur at any age, race or gender, but is one of the major causes of intestinal obstruction in infants and children. Infants with cystic fibrosis are more likely to experience meconium ileus (a dark green material in the intestine). The major cause of ileus is surgery occurring within and about the intestines, but normal activity of the intestines usually returns within hours to days after such operations. Ileuses can also be caused by Heart disease and kidney diseases, especially when potassium levels decrease. Certain chemotherapy drugs such as vinblastine and vincristine can also cause Ileuses. Over all the total rate of bow... ... middle of paper ... ...it: Gale, 2002. 1779-1780. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 16 May 2014. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3405600833&v=2.1&u=lirn43170&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=8e426a74a97a89ba83ccf900ca17ebba Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 4th Ed, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter McKenzie S, Evers BM. Small intestine. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds.Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 19th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2012:chap 50. Fry RD, Mahmoud N, Maron DJ, Bleier JIS. Colon and rectum. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 19th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2012:chap 52. Turnage RH, Heldmann M. Intestinal obstruction. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 119.

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