Bowel Obstruction in Pregnancy

Bowel obstruction is a major health problem in the United States.Obstruction complicating pregnancy is relatively uncommon, but when it happens, it causes significant morbidity and mortality for both the fetus and the mother. The developing fetus and the maternal physiologic changes associated with pregnancy frequently have resulted in physician reluctance to take aggressive action. This reluctance has led to delayed diagnosis and a significant incidence of ischemic bowel occurring in this subset of patients. This article reviews all cases reported in the English literature from 1945 to the present.