SBO
Medical abbreviation · Gastroenterology
| Stands for | Small bowel obstruction |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
SBO stands for Small bowel obstruction, a gastroenterology abbreviation.
Blockage of the small intestine, most often from postoperative adhesions, followed by hernias and tumors. Patients present with colicky pain, distension, vomiting and absent flatus; CT confirms the diagnosis and looks for strangulation, and many cases resolve with bowel rest and nasogastric decompression.
Example: Adhesive SBO on CT with transition point in the right lower quadrant; NG tube to suction, Gastrografin challenge.
Usage notes
Water-soluble contrast given by mouth both predicts and may speed resolution of adhesive obstruction. Signs of ischemia, such as fever, peritonitis or rising lactate, call for surgery. Pronounced as letters. A closed-loop obstruction, where a segment is blocked at both ends, is a surgical emergency.
Related abbreviations
More gastroenterology abbreviations
- POEM – Peroral endoscopic myotomy
- PSC – Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- PTC – Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography
- PUD – Peptic ulcer disease
- RYGB – Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- SBFT – Small bowel follow-through
- SBP – Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- SBS – Short bowel syndrome
- SIBO – Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- TIPS – Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
- tTG – Tissue transglutaminase (antibody test)
- UC – Ulcerative colitis
See all 85 gastroenterology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.