- Ileus
- Obstruction of the intestine due to it being paralyzed. The paralysis does not need to be complete to cause ileus, but the intestine must be so inactive that it prohibits the passage of food and leads to blockage of the intestine. Ileus commonly follows some types of surgery. It can result also from certain drugs, injuries, and illnesses. Irrespective of the cause, ileus causes constipation and bloating. On listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope, no bowel sounds are heard (because the bowel is inactive). Also called paralytic ileus.
* * *Mechanical, dynamic, or adynamic obstruction of the bowel; may be accompanied by severe colicky pain, abdominal distention, vomiting, absence of passage of stool, and often fever and dehydration. [G. eileos, intestinal colic, from eilo, to roll up tight]- adynamic i. obstruction of the bowel due to paralysis of the bowel wall, usually as a result of localized or generalized peritonitis or shock. SYN: paralytic i..- dynamic i. intestinal obstruction due to spastic contraction of a segment of the bowel. SYN: spastic i..- gallstone i. obstruction of the small intestine produced by passage of a gallstone from the biliary tract (usually the gallbladder as a result of cholecystitis) into the intestinal tract (usually by means of a fistulous connection between the gallbladder and the small intestine); occurrence and site of obstruction depend upon size of the stone, but the usual location is at or near the ileocecal junction.- mechanical i. obstruction of the bowel due to some mechanical cause, e.g., volvulus, gallstone, adhesions.- meconium i. intestinal obstruction in the fetus and newborn following inspissation of meconium and caused by lack of trypsin; associated with cystic fibrosis.- spastic i. SYN: dynamic i..
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il·e·us 'il-ē-əs n obstruction of the bowel specif a condition that is commonly marked by a painful distended abdomen, vomiting of dark or fecal matter, toxemia, and dehydration and that results when the intestinal contents back up because peristalsis fails although the lumen is not occluded compare VOLVULUS* * *
n.intestinal obstruction, usually obstruction of the small intestine (ileum). Paralytic or adynamic ileus is functional obstruction of the ileum due to loss of intestinal movement (peristalsis), which may be caused by abdominal surgery (see laparotomy), spinal injuries, deficiency of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia), or peritonitis. Treatment consists of intravenous administration of fluid and nutrients and removal of excess stomach secretions by tube until peristalsis returns. If possible, the underlying condition is treated. Mechanical obstruction of the ileum may be caused by a gallstone entering the bowel through a fistula or widened bile duct (gallstone ileus); thickened meconium in newborn babies with cystic fibrosis (meconium ileus); or intestinal worms, usually the thread-worm Enterobius vermicularis (verminous ileus).* * *
il·e·us (ilґe-əs) [L., from Gr. eileos, from eilein to roll up] 1. intestinal obstruction that is due to a nonmechanical cause, such as paralysis and failure of peristalsis. 2. formerly, any intestinal obstruction.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
