An intestinal obstruction is an bowel obstruction. It can be caused by various mechanisms and often occurs as an emergency that requires immediate treatment in a hospital, due to the risk of life-threatening complications.
Various factors can cause an intestinal obstruction. Adhesions in the abdominal region (e.g. following abdominal surgery in the past) or parts of the intestines rotating against each other can cause intestinal constrictions. This is called obstructive ileus. Various medications, operations or accidents can cause the digestive tract muscles to cramp or to be paralysed, stopping transport to the lumen. This is called functional ileus. An obstructive ileus can disrupt the blood supply or cause parts of the intestine to die. The blockage of intestinal contents may also cause bacteria entering the systemic circulation (blood poisoning) and damages due to a higher level of bacteriologically produced poisons.
Depending on the intestinal obstructions‘ location, different symptoms may occur, such as colic pain, flatulence, nausea and vomiting or a bloated and stretched abdomen. Displacement of fluids and salts from the body to the intestines can cause impairment of consciousness, cardiac arrhythmia or nausea. It can usually be diagnosed by ultrasound or and ex-ray of the abdomen; good anamnesis and examination can often clarify the causes.
The treatment depends on cause and severity of the condition. Most cases of obstructive ileus require surgical therapy to remove the blockage; functional ileus can sometimes be treated conservatively.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
Name
Email address
Type your message here