Abnormal bowel sounds Tleus - lack of intestinal activity. Many medical conditions may lead to ileus. - cause gas, fluids, and the contents of the intestines to build up and rupture the intestinal wall, normally bowel sounds absent upon auscultation. Hyperactive, hypoactive, or missing bowel sounds may be caused by: * Blocked blood vessels. For example, blood clots can cause mesenteric artery occlusion. + Mechanical bowel obstruction caused by hernia, tumour, adhesions ete + Paralytic ileus is a problem with the nerves to the intestines. Hypoactive bowel sound - Soft, low, widely separated sounds (one and two occur in two minutes = Decreased or absent bowel sounds often indicate constipation. - Peritonitis (inflammation of peritoneum) ¢ Due to inflammation, there might be accumulation of slight fluid in the abdomen so the abdominal sounds are not heard as clearly. - Ascites (accumulation of fluid in abdominal region) «due to presence of the fluid, the abdominal sounds get muffled - intestinal blockage or gastroparesis opiates, anticholinergics (drugs reduce intestinal movement) - General anaesthesia - Spinal anaesthesia Surgery in the abdomenIncreased (hyperactive) bowel sounds, gurgling loud sounds. Hyperactive bowel sounds mean there is an increase in intestinal activity. This may happen with diarrhoea or after cating. Crohn’s Disease (idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) - irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis food allergy and gastroenteritis - diarrhoea - GIbleeding - Infectious enteritis no bowel sounds after a period of hyperactive bowel sounds can mean there is a rupture of the intestines, or strangulation of the bowel and death (necrosis) of the bowel tissue "Very high-pitched bowel sounds may be a sign of early bowel obstruction.