A closed-loop obstruction is a particularly dangerous form of bowel obstruction where a segment of bowel is blocked at both ends, leaving it unable to decompress.
Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, distended abdomen, and inability to pass stool or gas — pain often comes on faster and more severely than in a simple obstruction.
Imaging shows the closed loop, where the obstruction is, and whether blood supply to the trapped bowel is failing.
CT of the abdomen is the test of choice; it identifies the closed loop, the transition point, and signs of ischaemia.
Most cases need urgent surgery to release the trapped loop and assess the bowel's viability; delay risks bowel death and peritonitis.
This entry explains the finding. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
