Causes
A gastrointestinal emergency can result from severe abdominal trauma that injures or damages a digestive organ. In addition to injury, GI emergencies also can result from the following:
- Infection or inflammation in the digestive tract (e.g., appendicitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, peritonitis)
- Ingestion of a foreign substance (e.g., poison) or object
- Intestinal obstruction or compression (partial or complete blockage in the digestive tract; e.g., caused by an anatomical abnormality, tumor, stricture, or gallstones)
- Perforation, rupture, or tear in a digestive organ (e.g., abdominal aneurysm, ulcer)
- Prolapse of a digestive organ (e.g., rectal prolapse)
- Postoperative evisceration (leakage of abdominal contents from a surgical wound [incision])
- Severely reduced blood flow (ischemia) in the digestive tract
Physician-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 29 Feb 2008
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 22 Feb 2008
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