Low bowel obstruction in palliative care

For suspected low bowel obstruction, exclude constipation, which may be hard to distinguish from colonic obstruction.

Patients with low bowel obstruction tend to have more abdominal swelling and cramping abdominal pain than patients with high bowel obstruction. With low bowel obstruction there may be fewer episodes of vomiting, but the vomiting can be more voluminous and is commonly feculent. Minimal colonic function may still occur, and hydration is less of a problem than with high bowel obstruction. Even when there is complete low bowel obstruction, the patient may continue to drink for prolonged periods without excessive bloating or discomfort.