| bowel obstruction | A blockage of the bowel lumen prohibiting the passage of material. Common symptoms include constipation, abdominal swelling and abdominal pain. Treatment includes intravenous fluids, rest, nasogastric suction and surgery in select cases. (27 Sep 1997) |
|---|---|
| bowel perforation | Complete penetration of the intestinal wall resulting in the potential for bacterial contamination of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). (27 Sep 1997) |
| bowel sounds | Sounds heard when contractions of the lower intestines propel contents forward. The physician will listen to bowel sounds (using a stethoscope) as part of the normal physical examination of the abdomen. Their absence can indicate intestinal obstruction or ileus (paralysis of the bowel). (27 Sep 1997) |
| gay bowel syndrome | <syndrome> Gastrointestinal discomfort experienced by homosexual males; includes abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea caused by enteric bacteria, viruses, fungi, zooparasites, or trauma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| massive bowel resection syndrome | <syndrome> Malabsorption following extensive resection of the bowel, particularly the small intestine, characterised by diarrhoea, steatorrhoea, hypoproteinaemia, and malnutrition. (05 Mar 2000) |
| short bowel syndrome | <syndrome> A malabsorption syndrome resulting from extensive operative resection of small bowel. (12 Dec 1998) |
| short-bowel syndrome | <syndrome> Malabsorption and maldigestion resulting from disease or resection of large portions of the small intestine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| syndrome, irritable bowel | A common gastrointestinal disorder (also called spastic colitis, mucus colitis or nervous colon syndrome), ibs is an abnormal condition of gut contractions (motility) characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, mucous in stools, and irregular bowel habits with more than alternating diarrhoea and constipation, symtoms that tend to be chronic and wax and wane over the years. Although ibs can cause chronic recurrent discomfort, it does not lead to any serious organ problems. Diagnosis usually involves more than excluding other illnesses. Treatment is directed toward relief of symptoms and includes high fibre diet, exercise, relaxation techniques, avoidance of caffeine, milk products and sweeteners, and medications. (12 Dec 1998) |
| inflammatory bowel disease | <disease> A general term that encompasses several disease processes, most commonly, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| inflammatory bowel diseases | Chronic, non-specific disorders of unknown aetiology. Includes crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Extracolonic manifestations are often associated with inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) and involve the liver, joints and skin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| intramural bowel gas | <radiology> Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) - infants, mesenteric vascular thrombosis, necrosis due to strangulated obstruction, toxic ulcerative colitis, ulceration proximal to obstructing carcinoma, post-surgical changes (12 Dec 1998) |
| irritable bowel disease | <disease> A functional bowel disorder characterised by recurrent crampy abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Invasive gastrointestinal diagnostics are often unrevealing. (27 Sep 1997) |
| irritable bowel syndrome | <syndrome> A functional bowel disorder characterised by recurrent crampy abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Invasive gastrointestinal diagnostics are often unrevealing. (27 Sep 1997) |
| ischaemic bowel disease | <surgery> A disorder which results from the inadequate flow of oxygenated blood to the intestines. Symptoms include crampy abdominal pain after eating. More common in those with a history of atherosclerosis and-or diabetes. (15 Oct 1997) |
| bilaterally small, smooth kidneys | <radiology> Generalised atherosclerosis, nephrosclerosis - benign and malignant, atheroembolic renal disease, chronic glomerulonephritis, papillary necrosis, hereditary diseases, hereditary chronic nephritis (Alport's syndrome), medullary cystic disease, amyloidosis (late), arterial hypotension Cf: other urographic patterns (12 Dec 1998) |