Bowel obstruction Partial or complete blockage of the small intestine can have numerous possible causes. The causes include obstruction by a tumor, a strangulated hernia, or scar tissue; volvulus (twisting of the intestine); intussusception (telescoping of the intestine inside itself); and diseases that affect the intestinal wall, such as Crohn’s disease or paralysis of muscles in the intestinal wall. Less commonly, intestinal obstruction may be due to impacted food or feces, gallstones , or a swallowed object.
Symptoms of intestinal obstruction may include abdominal pain and swelling, vomiting, and failure to pass gas (flatus) or feces.
Treatment often involves surgery to relieve the obstruction