Small Bowel Obstruction?
Is it possible for a small bowel obstruction not to be visible on a CT scan? I’ve had 2 Obstruction in less then a year and I’m having the same symptons but the CT scan shows no obstruction. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Tagged with: small bowel obstruction
Filed under: Bowels


Could it be some type of scarred tissue from past episodes causeing the recurring feeling of another obstruction? It could be possible that it has not developed significantly enough to show yet. This is really a hard call… SORRY!
It is possible, however unlikely. If the images were not acquired properly, or an insufficient amount of barium was used, it definitely could have been missed. Another possibility, is if the radiologist made a mistake. This is very unlikely on such a common exam.
Bowel obstructions are fairly easy to diagnosis. Even the bowel sounds are identifiable. You would not be passing any gas or having bowel movments. YOu woudln’t be able to eat. You would have major nausea.
What you might be experiencing is not a complete obstruction but a partial one. which ever……you need to be taken care of by a doctor. If it doesn’t show up on a scan or xray and the pain persists…..ask the doctor to check again.