Bowel obstruction laboratory findings
Bowel obstruction Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Surgery |
Case Studies |
Bowel obstruction laboratory findings On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Bowel obstruction laboratory findings |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Bowel obstruction laboratory findings |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]
Overview
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of bowel obstruction include hyponatremia and hypokalemia, leukocytosis, metabolic alkalosis and elevated serum lactate.
Laboratory Findings
- Laboratory findings that may be carried out in order to diagnosis bowel obstruction include:[1][2][3]
- Complete blood count
- To identify anemia, which may indicate a specific etiology such as Crohn's disease, Meckel's diverticulum or malignancy
- To identify leukocytosis
- Blood urea nitrogen
- Creatinine
- Eletrolytes
- The presence of hyponatremia and hypokalemia is often noted in cases of bowel obstruction
- Arterial blood gases
- Although not routine, is useful to assess systemic signs such as hypotension and also for cases of metabolic alkalosis
- Serum lactate
- Elevated serum lactate may suggest bowel ischemia
- Complete blood count
References
- ↑ Takeuchi K, Tsuzuki Y, Ando T, Sekihara M, Hara T, Yoshikawa M, Kuwano H (2004). "Clinical studies of strangulating small bowel obstruction". Am Surg. 70 (1): 40–4. PMID 14964545.
- ↑ Murray MJ, Gonze MD, Nowak LR, Cobb CF (1994). "Serum D(-)-lactate levels as an aid to diagnosing acute intestinal ischemia". Am. J. Surg. 167 (6): 575–8. PMID 8209931.
- ↑ Lange H, Jäckel R (1994). "Usefulness of plasma lactate concentration in the diagnosis of acute abdominal disease". Eur J Surg. 160 (6–7): 381–4. PMID 7948358.