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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffTests and procedures used to diagnose intestinal obstruction include:
- Physical exam. Your doctor will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. He or she will also do a physical exam to assess your situation. The doctor may suspect intestinal obstruction if your abdomen is swollen or tender or if there's a lump in your abdomen.
- Imaging tests. To confirm a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, your doctor may recommend abdominal X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scans. These tests also help your doctor determine if the obstruction is paralytic ileus or if it's a mechanical obstruction, and if it's a partial or a complete obstruction.
References
- Turnage RH, et al. Intestinal obstruction. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisinger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&uniq=200844987-3. Accessed Aug. 24, 2010.
- Foxx-Orenstein AE. Ileus and pseudo-obstruction. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisinger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&uniq=200844987-3. Accessed Aug. 24, 2010.
- Torrey SP, et al. Disorders of the small intestine. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&uniq=216142190-4. Accessed Aug. 24, 2010.
- Peterson MA. Disorders of the large intestine. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&uniq=216142190-4. Accessed Aug. 24, 2010.
- Intestinal pseudo-obstruction. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/intestinalpo/index.htm. Accessed Aug. 24, 2010.
- Abdominal adhesions. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/intestinaladhesions/index.htm. Accessed Aug. 24, 2010.
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