Intestinal obstruction due to tumor compression

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

One of the major causes of bowel obstruction is colorectal cancer. Tumor compression can cause intestinal obstruction, greatly affecting the patient's health. If not treated in time, it can lead to death.

Patients with intestinal obstruction due to compression of the tumor or any other cause will have basic symptoms such as:
Pain: The patient's pain is intermittent, the pain is sudden and severe, the pain level gradually increases. . Each pain lasts about 2-3 minutes, then subsides, after a while the patient appears new pain. This situation is repeated, at first the interval between the pain is small, then it gradually fades away. Initially, the patient only felt pain in a certain area of ​​​​the abdomen, then the pain spread to the whole abdomen. Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting appear along with the pain. The patient initially vomits food. After running out of food, they will vomit bile and digestive juices, and finally vomit stools. Vomiting stools is a sign that the bowel obstruction is already in a very advanced stage. Constipation, defecation: This is the basic symptom that the substances in the intestinal lumen have completely stopped. Initially, the intestines still contract to try to push out the gas and stool below the obstruction, when the gas and substances below the obstruction are completely gone, the patient will have bowel obstruction and defecation. Abdominal distention: The intestines are filled with fluid and gas, causing the patient to feel bloated, the abdomen is stretched, and there is an echo when tapping on the abdomen. Especially in patients with thin abdominal wall, intestinal loops can be seen to protrude into the abdominal wall. When pain occurs, using light to shine on the abdomen can see peristaltic waves in the bowel loops rising, moving like a snake crawling in the abdomen. This is called the phenomenon of snake crawling in mechanical intestinal obstruction.

The process of treating intestinal obstruction due to colon tumor needs to ensure two basic principles:
Re-establish stable circulation for the digestive tract Treat cancer. The most commonly used treatment method for patients with bowel obstruction due to colon cancer is emergency surgery, accounting for about 20.7%. Regardless of the method used, emergency surgery for colon cancer in patients with many cancer risk factors, especially the elderly, and malnourished patients due to the tumor blocking the bowel for a long time, affects the health of the colon. health, anemia that does not prepare the intestine will increase the rate of complications and death.
In addition, colon cancer patients often have many diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, lung diseases...
National General Hospital Vinmec Medical is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its comprehensive and specialized medical examination, consultation and treatment services. Karma; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.
With nearly 10 years of experience in the field of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong has successfully performed many complicated endoscopic interventions, detecting many digestive cancer lesions at an advanced stage. early, bringing health and peace of mind to many patients. Doctor Phuong specializes in early cancer diagnosis in stomach and colon, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the treatment of biliary tract stones, biliary atresia, cholangiocarcinoma, biliary fistula and treatment of cardiac spasms with technique of opening muscle through the mouth to treat cardiac spasms.