BOWEL

SOUND

BOWEL SOUND

Abdominal (bowel) sounds refer to noises made

within the small and large intestines, typically during

digestion.

TERMS

Hyperactive bowel sounds --- Loud, gurgling rushed sounds

Hypoactive bowel sounds --- Soft, low, widely separated sounds such as one or two occurring in two minutes.

Absent sounds --- when sounds are not heard for 3-5 minutes of auscultating in each quadrant.

Report this immediately as it may be a complication such as intestinal obstruction, peritonitis or paralytic ileus,

TYPES OF BOWEL SOUND

a) hyperactive bowel sounds typically

indicate an increase in intestinal activity.

b) hypoactive bowel sounds can indicate a

decline in intestinal activity.

If bowel sounds are present with some other

symptoms like, gas, nausea, vomiting, and presence

or absence of bowel movements, then they may

indicate certain underlying diseases or disorders.

Absence of bowel sounds after a period of

increased bowel sounds, can be a matter of serious

health concern, as it may indicate rupture of the

intestine or necrosis of the bowel tissue.

Causes of bowel movement

a) HYPERACTIVE BOWEL SOUND

o Crohn's disease

where there is idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

o Irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis

leads to an increase in bowel sound.

o food allergy and gastroenteritis may also

lead to hyperactive sounds emanating from the bowel.

Other causes of hyperactive bowel sound

o Diarrhea

o GI bleeding

o Infectious enteritis

b) HYPOACTIVE BOWEL SOUND

o Peritonitis

in which there is inflammation of the peritoneum. Here, due to the inflammation, there may be accumulation of slight fluid in the abdomen so the abdominal sounds are not heard as clearly over it.

o Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal region(ascites)

Due to the presence of this fluid, the abdominal sounds get muffled and so, seem to be hypoactive.

o Obstruction to flow of food, in the form of intestinal blockage or gastroparesis, then it leads to hypoactive sounds of bowel

o Drugs that reduce intestinal movements such as opiates (including codeine), anticholinergics, and phenothiazines

Other causes of hypoactive bowel sound

o General anesthesia

o Radiation to the abdomen

o Spinal anesthesia

o Surgery in the abdomen