Small Bowel Obstruction- Exam Questions with Verified Answers (Graded A+) Latest Update 2025
What is the dx when normal flow of intestinal contents is interrupted? - Answers Small bowel
obstruction
Small bowel obstruction leads to dilation of stomach and small intestine proximal or distal to blockage? -
Answers Proximal
When you have a small bowel obstruction distal to a blockage what happens? - Answers Bowel will
decompress as contents are passed
What is the most frequent cause of small bowel obstruction? - Answers Postoperative adhesions and
hernias (cause extrinsic compression of intestine)
In small bowel obstructions what causes intrinsic blockage? - Answers Tumors or strictures
True or False. Small bowel obstructions can be complete or partial. - Answers True
What is the hallmark of small bowel obstruction? - Answers Dehydration
When a pt has repeated bouts of nausea and emesis and typically cease taking in food or liquids orally
what kind of bowel obstruction does the pt have? - Answers Proximal bowel obstruction
As the small bowel dilates, it's blood flow can be compromised and lead to what? - Answers Necrosis or
strangulation and sepsis
What are the most common symptoms in small bowel obstruction? - Answers Cramping abd pain and
distention, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus
Pts with what kind of disease frequently presents with bowel obstruction due to stricture? - Answers
Crohn's
What kind of overgrowth occurs in proximal small bowel?(Emesis can become feculent) - Answers
Bacterial
What two symptoms are associated with strangulating bowel obstruction? - Answers Fever and
tachycardia
What are some PE findings of small bowel obstruction? - Answers Hypotension, oliguria, and dry mucous
membranes --> indicate dehydration.
Tenderness to light percussion, rebound, guarding, localized tenderness suggests what in SBO? -
Answers Peritonitis
Air filled loops of bowel of stomach in SBO is defined as what on percussion? - Answers Tympnay
True or False. Lab findings are helpful when determining presence of SBO. - Answers False... but can help
in assessment of dehydration.
,Presence of air in colon or rectum makes diagnosis of complete SBO more or less likely? - Answers Less
likely
What diagnostic study is used to confirm diagnosis of SBO? - Answers Plain abd x-ray
What diagnostic study has replaced the small bowel series as the adjunctive study of choice? - Answers
CT scan
What may be the appropriate diagnostic evaluation for a pregnant pt suspected of SBO? - Answers
Ultrasound
How is SBO diagnosed? - Answers Clinical and radiographic features
What is the initial management of SBO? - Answers Determine degree of volume depletion and metabolic
derangement. Foley catheter to monitor urine output. IV access for fluid resuscitation. Severity, cause
and location of obstruction. Whether nooperative mngt can be considered or need surgery. Swan-Ganz
catheter for fluid mngt (pts with hx of HF). Obstructed pts should be observed for no longer than 12-
24hrs.
Nonoperative mngt for SBO? - Answers NG suction and IV fluids may be successful in partial SBO
Operative mngt for SBO? - Answers Nature of obstruction determines types and extend of surgery.
Important to handle dilated bowel proximal to point of obstruction gently because bowel wall can be
thing and easily injured. Adhesiolysis best done with sharp scissors or cautery... etc.
How do you prevent SBO? - Answers Laparoscopic surgery, when possible, appears to lead to a decrease
in frequency of postoperative adhesions.
What are the Functions of the Digestive Tract? - Answers 1. Breakdown of food for digestion
2. Absorption of nutrients produced by digestion into the bloodstream
3. Elimination of undigested foodstuffs and other waste products
4. Extends from mouth to anus
What are the Major Enzymes and Secretions? - Answers Salivary amylase
HCL
pepsin
intrinsic factor
amylase
lipase
, trypsin
bile
bacteria
Mouth: saliva, salivary amylase - Answers breakdown starch
Stomach: hydrochloric acid - Answers food breakdown and kills bacteria
Small intestine: amylase - Answers hydrolysis of sugar and starch
Large intestine: bacteria - Answers normal flora
pepsin - Answers protein breakdown
intrinsic factor - Answers gastric secretion that helps B12 be absorbed
Bile - Answers secreted by the liver aids in emulsifying fats making them easier to digest and absorb
What are the functions of the digestive tract? - Answers breakdown of food
absorption of nutrients
elimination of waste products
What are the parts of the digestive tract? - Answers mouth>pharynx>esophagus>esophageal
sphincter>stomach>pyloric sphincter>duodenum>jejunum>ileum>ileocecal valve>large
intestine>colon>anus
trypsin - Answers degrades protein
lipase - Answers hydrolysis (break apart) of fats (lipids)
bile - Answers emulsifies (make into) fats
What are you assessing in a digestive history? - Answers patient history (any GI issues)
abdominal pain
dyspepsia (indigestion)
n/v/d
constipation
fecal incontinence
changes in bowel pattern
What is the dx when normal flow of intestinal contents is interrupted? - Answers Small bowel
obstruction
Small bowel obstruction leads to dilation of stomach and small intestine proximal or distal to blockage? -
Answers Proximal
When you have a small bowel obstruction distal to a blockage what happens? - Answers Bowel will
decompress as contents are passed
What is the most frequent cause of small bowel obstruction? - Answers Postoperative adhesions and
hernias (cause extrinsic compression of intestine)
In small bowel obstructions what causes intrinsic blockage? - Answers Tumors or strictures
True or False. Small bowel obstructions can be complete or partial. - Answers True
What is the hallmark of small bowel obstruction? - Answers Dehydration
When a pt has repeated bouts of nausea and emesis and typically cease taking in food or liquids orally
what kind of bowel obstruction does the pt have? - Answers Proximal bowel obstruction
As the small bowel dilates, it's blood flow can be compromised and lead to what? - Answers Necrosis or
strangulation and sepsis
What are the most common symptoms in small bowel obstruction? - Answers Cramping abd pain and
distention, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus
Pts with what kind of disease frequently presents with bowel obstruction due to stricture? - Answers
Crohn's
What kind of overgrowth occurs in proximal small bowel?(Emesis can become feculent) - Answers
Bacterial
What two symptoms are associated with strangulating bowel obstruction? - Answers Fever and
tachycardia
What are some PE findings of small bowel obstruction? - Answers Hypotension, oliguria, and dry mucous
membranes --> indicate dehydration.
Tenderness to light percussion, rebound, guarding, localized tenderness suggests what in SBO? -
Answers Peritonitis
Air filled loops of bowel of stomach in SBO is defined as what on percussion? - Answers Tympnay
True or False. Lab findings are helpful when determining presence of SBO. - Answers False... but can help
in assessment of dehydration.
,Presence of air in colon or rectum makes diagnosis of complete SBO more or less likely? - Answers Less
likely
What diagnostic study is used to confirm diagnosis of SBO? - Answers Plain abd x-ray
What diagnostic study has replaced the small bowel series as the adjunctive study of choice? - Answers
CT scan
What may be the appropriate diagnostic evaluation for a pregnant pt suspected of SBO? - Answers
Ultrasound
How is SBO diagnosed? - Answers Clinical and radiographic features
What is the initial management of SBO? - Answers Determine degree of volume depletion and metabolic
derangement. Foley catheter to monitor urine output. IV access for fluid resuscitation. Severity, cause
and location of obstruction. Whether nooperative mngt can be considered or need surgery. Swan-Ganz
catheter for fluid mngt (pts with hx of HF). Obstructed pts should be observed for no longer than 12-
24hrs.
Nonoperative mngt for SBO? - Answers NG suction and IV fluids may be successful in partial SBO
Operative mngt for SBO? - Answers Nature of obstruction determines types and extend of surgery.
Important to handle dilated bowel proximal to point of obstruction gently because bowel wall can be
thing and easily injured. Adhesiolysis best done with sharp scissors or cautery... etc.
How do you prevent SBO? - Answers Laparoscopic surgery, when possible, appears to lead to a decrease
in frequency of postoperative adhesions.
What are the Functions of the Digestive Tract? - Answers 1. Breakdown of food for digestion
2. Absorption of nutrients produced by digestion into the bloodstream
3. Elimination of undigested foodstuffs and other waste products
4. Extends from mouth to anus
What are the Major Enzymes and Secretions? - Answers Salivary amylase
HCL
pepsin
intrinsic factor
amylase
lipase
, trypsin
bile
bacteria
Mouth: saliva, salivary amylase - Answers breakdown starch
Stomach: hydrochloric acid - Answers food breakdown and kills bacteria
Small intestine: amylase - Answers hydrolysis of sugar and starch
Large intestine: bacteria - Answers normal flora
pepsin - Answers protein breakdown
intrinsic factor - Answers gastric secretion that helps B12 be absorbed
Bile - Answers secreted by the liver aids in emulsifying fats making them easier to digest and absorb
What are the functions of the digestive tract? - Answers breakdown of food
absorption of nutrients
elimination of waste products
What are the parts of the digestive tract? - Answers mouth>pharynx>esophagus>esophageal
sphincter>stomach>pyloric sphincter>duodenum>jejunum>ileum>ileocecal valve>large
intestine>colon>anus
trypsin - Answers degrades protein
lipase - Answers hydrolysis (break apart) of fats (lipids)
bile - Answers emulsifies (make into) fats
What are you assessing in a digestive history? - Answers patient history (any GI issues)
abdominal pain
dyspepsia (indigestion)
n/v/d
constipation
fecal incontinence
changes in bowel pattern
