If obstruction of the intestines is detected in the elderly, what should I do if there is such a dangerous disease? Where to go? What drugs to take? Is it possible to heal qualitatively, without surgical intervention?
One of the keys to good physical health is the normal functioning of the intestines. Violation of the natural movement of the contents (semi-digested food masses) causes an obstruction in this organ, which is very dangerous and for the most part inherent in elderly people.
Types of intestinal obstruction
If obstruction of the intestines is detected in the elderly, what to do is decided only by a specialist. This disease, depending on the causes of occurrence, is divided into two types:
- Mechanical Most often caused by the presence of adhesions in the abdominal region. It can be caused by internal tumors, vertebral hernia, foreign bodies in the intestine, tangles of parasites, gallstones (if they form bedsores in the intestinal wall).
- Dynamic. It is the result of unsuccessful surgical interventions, acute conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, acute appendicitis, peritonitis, inflammation of a gynecological nature).
In turn, the first of them is divided into:
- obstructive - intestinal walls are simply compressed;
- strangulation - squeezing the walls is accompanied by a violation of the nutrition of their vessels, the pain is permanent.
Bowel obstruction in the elderly is of two subtypes:
- Spastic, in which there is an increase in peristalsis (wave-like contractions that help push food through the small and large intestines), which provokes intestinal spasm;
- Paralytic. The walls of the intestines are relaxed, which causes a complete stop of peristalsis.
Constipation is a major symptom of intestinal obstruction.
Intestinal obstruction in the elderly, the reasons for which are mainly due to malnutrition, age-related diseases, internal formations, is indicated by such a clear sign as constipation - the absence of gas and feces. Most often, it is caused by a sedentary lifestyle characteristic of most representatives of advanced age and providing insufficient blood supply to the small pelvis and weakness of the pelvic muscles.
One option to alleviate the situation is a light massage of the abdomen, relaxing gymnastics, physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at stimulating intestinal motility.
With obstruction of a partial nature or localization of its focus in the upper intestine, the stool is scarce, and the discharge of gases is negligible. Along the way, there is a clear "distortion" of the abdomen, bloating, frequent vomiting.
Disease phases
Next, consider what other obstruction of the intestines in older people has symptoms. Treatment is determined depending on the stage of disruption of this organ. The disease proceeds in three main phases:
- Initial. It manifests itself as severe pain at the site of focus of the focus, which spread throughout the abdominal region. The patient has constant loud boiling, which can last 12 hours, after which the noise completely disappears: the disease develops into another stage.
- Intoxication. It is characterized by difficult discharge of feces, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, cramping constant pain, each attack lasts about 10 minutes. Bloating is asymmetric, the patient has a significant loss of strength, the body is covered with cold sweat. The duration of this condition lasts from 2 to 3 days and signals a complete failure of the intestinal motor function.
- Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum.
If bowel obstruction suddenly occurs in the elderly, what should I do? How to help a sick person?
At the slightest suspicion of the presence in the body of such a dangerous disease that poses a direct threat to human life, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible, thus increasing the chances of an early correction.
Possible effects of self-medication
It is important to understand that before examining a doctor, you should not independently wash your stomach, make enemas, take laxatives and painkillers. After all, intestinal obstruction in the elderly, the symptoms of which are primarily determined by constipation and pain in the abdominal region, threatens with such undesirable, life-threatening consequences as malfunctions of the heart, as well as renal and liver failure.
Dying (necrosis) of the intestine can cause vascular compression. At the advanced stage of the disease, even surgical intervention cannot provide a firm guarantee for the patient's recovery. Therefore, reluctance to go to the hospital, a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation, the decision to be treated independently, without consulting a doctor, can only harm an elderly person who has digestive problems.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosis of bowel obstruction consists in an initial survey and a thorough examination of the patient by a gastroenterologist. A physician prescribed general tests of urine and blood, and after receiving the results, certain examination methods:
- Ultrasound of the abdomen is the most common way to detect intestinal obstruction, which allows you to clarify the clinical condition in both dynamic and mechanical forms;
- a biochemical blood test examining indicators such as protein, lipids, carbohydrates, enzymes, minerals, electrolytes, inorganic substances, protein metabolism products;
- X-ray diagnosis of the abdominal cavity;
- detailed blood test;
- Schwartz tests to help determine small bowel obstruction;
- colonoscopy - the study of the surface of the colon from the inside.
By vaginal or rectal examination, it is possible to identify a blockage in the rectum, as well as a tumor in the pelvis. With an external examination, the physician can determine the peristalsis of intestinal loops by the dry tongue coated with white coating and asymmetrically swollen belly.
If you suspect a bowel disease or a confirmed diagnosis, hospitalization is simply necessary.
Bowel obstruction
If you have symptoms such as constipation and abdominal pain, a medical examination in most cases confirms the diagnosis of "bowel obstruction" in the elderly. How to treat this disease in a hospital?
Initial therapy consists in the use of conservative methods, combined, if necessary, with clarifying diagnostics. These are enemas (elimination of stagnant feces), drainage of the stomach, the introduction of medicinal compounds that relieve pain and help remove toxins. Such measures are effective for a dynamic variety of the disease and partly for a mechanical one.
Effective therapy is considered when the patient disappears pain, bloating and the absence of vomiting. Along the way, from the intestine there should be a waste of gases and feces. Assigned radiography allows you to record how positive changes in the physical condition of the patient are.
Of the therapeutic activities carried out:
- the introduction into the stomach of a flexible probe, which causes the release of stagnant contents in the upper part of the digestive tract;
- intravenous administration of a solution in order to normalize the water-salt balance;
- the appointment of painkillers and antiemetics;
- the introduction of the drug "Proserin" in order to stimulate the activity of the intestine.
Bowel obstruction in the elderly: surgery
If after 12 hours no improvement is observed, an operation is urgently scheduled during which the commissures are dissected, twists are straightened and loops, nodes, tumors that interfere with the promotion of intestinal contents are removed. In severe cases, several surgical procedures may be used. These manipulations allow you to restore bowel obstruction in the elderly.
After surgery, the patient should not eat or drink for 12 hours. Food, the basis of which are special mixtures, is administered intravenously or using a probe during this period. Only after the approval and permission of the attending physician does the patient transfer to a “zero” meal consisting of easily digestible products. Salt in the diet should be no more than 1-2 g per day. Serving size - very small, meals throughout the day are divided into 6 or 8 times. Dishes should be served in a jelly-like or grated state, warm (hot and cold prohibited). The basis is low-fat meat broths, homemade berry-fruit jellies, juices and decoctions.
How to cure bowel obstruction in the elderly? An operation (the prognosis of which, when timely, is mostly favorable) may not give the desired effect when contacting doctors in the later stages or for a delayed diagnosis of bowel obstruction. Also, an inoperable neoplasm can indicate an undesirable outcome of this disease.
If intestinal obstruction was diagnosed in the elderly, the operation, the prognosis of which we have already named, can give vivid hope for a speedy recovery. But patients need preventive measures such as ongoing examinations and timely elimination of helminth infections. If possible, injuries should be avoided and good nutrition should be followed.
Bowel obstruction in the elderly: diet
An important role in the treatment of intestinal obstruction is played by a diet, the action of which is aimed at ridding the body of complex work and excessive food loads. Its main principles are:
- moderate and frequent meals. Any overeating causes an aggravation of the symptoms of the disease, and a fractional meal does not cause a feeling of hunger;
- lack in the diet of products that cause gas formation: cabbage, legumes, whole milk;
- low calorie content: 1800-1900 kcal.
Menu for intestinal obstruction
We offer a presumptive menu for intestinal obstruction, but its contents should be consulted with your doctor:
- The first breakfast is cooked on the water and grated oatmeal, cottage cheese souffle and tea.
- The second breakfast is blueberry or quince broth.
- Lunch - light low-fat broth, grated porridge from rice or semolina, steam meatballs, jelly.
- Snack - a decoction based on rose hips.
- Dinner - buckwheat porridge cooked on water (in grated form) or steam omelet, tea.
- Before going to bed - fruit or berry jelly.
Symptoms such as prolonged constipation and abdominal pain may indicate bowel obstruction in the elderly. What to do when confirming this diagnosis?
The treatment of a dangerous disease requires the qualified help of doctors. The use of alternative methods is possible only after consultation with a doctor, because for a patient an attempt at self-treatment can end very sadly. Alternative methods can be used if the disease is chronic in which the obstruction is partial and does not require surgical intervention.
Sea buckthorn to help
It is possible to remove internal inflammation and heal wounds with sea buckthorn juice and oil, which also has a mild laxative effect. To do this, rinse and grind 1 kg of berries, pour 0.7 l of boiled cooled water. Squeeze the juice. Use half a glass once a day 30 minutes before meals.
To prepare sea buckthorn oil, grind 1 kg of berries with a wooden spoon. Pour the resulting juice into enameled dishes and leave for a day, after which collect the oil that has appeared on the surface. Estimated yield of 1 kg of fruit - 90 g of the product. Oil is required to take a teaspoon three times a day for half an hour before meals.
Available treatments for bowel obstruction
How to cure bowel obstruction in the elderly? What to do? Folk remedies recommend the use of vegetables: pumpkins and beets. Helping to relieve intestinal colic, such products have a laxative effect on the body.
Boiled beets (100 g) should be combined with honey to taste and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of olive or sunflower oil. The resulting mixture is recommended to eat 2 times a day for 2 tbsp. l., washed down with water. A small portion of pumpkin porridge with honey, taken every day, will be useful for the body.
Ancient healers for constipation associated with poor intestinal patency, advised to introduce bran into the diet. Each morning, you need to steam 2 tablespoons of the product with a glass of boiling water and insist for an hour. Then the cooled water needs to be drained, and the settled thick mass, carefully chewed, eat. After a week, the stool will improve and the physical condition will noticeably improve.
As an effective laxative, it is recommended to use a decoction of fresh plums: half a glass three times a day. Pound a kilogram of fruit, pour over water and boil. Boil on the fire for about an hour. Add the finished product to the initial level and boil again.
Herbal solutions in bowel treatment
Buckthorn bark (1 tbsp.spoon) is required to brew a glass of boiling water, insist and drink instead of the usual tea. The drink has a mild laxative effect, without any adverse reactions.
Intestinal obstruction in the elderly, a diet in which is one of the main factors in restoring the functioning of an important organ, is eliminated by infusion of flax seeds. It is recommended to take it shortly before going to bed. A teaspoon of raw materials should be steamed with a glass of boiling water, wrapped and insisted until the morning in a warm place. Further, a remedy characterized by a mild laxative effect is required to drink along with the seeds.
Flaxseeds are also an effective basis for anti-inflammatory and cleansing enemas: a spoonful of raw materials needs to be steamed with a glass of boiling water. After an hour, filter the liquid and use as directed.
An excellent laxative property has an infusion of blackberry leaves. A tablespoon of raw materials should be brewed with a glass of boiling water and insisted in a thermos for 4 hours. A medicinal product should be taken in a quarter cup during the day before meals.
Useful Tips
It is important to remember that to restore intestinal patency, the diet should include foods containing a high percentage of dietary fiber (bread with bran, cereals, fruits, vegetables), and drink enough liquid to help swell dietary fiber, which leads to an improvement in peristalsis.
Of great importance is a mobile lifestyle (physical exercise, jogging, dancing), which contributes to the rapid establishment of the work of internal organs.