Expert: Robert Borucki Date: 7/12/2008 Subject: ileus in 18-year-old son concerns
Question My very healthy son woke up with severe abdominal pains July 5th. He hasn't had surgery or abdominal injuries. Blood work, CAT scan reveleaved nothing. Internest guesses paralytic ileus because no bowl sounds. He hasn't eaten since July 7th and has drank very little. He hasn't improved at all. He's dehydrated. July 9th he was given 2 bags via IV. Is there nothing we can do to help him? Could there be something else wrong? He's starving, not nauseated, not vomiting. He passes some gas but absolutely no stool. Last night a bit of reddish fluid came out. Any thoughts would help me. Thank you. I am so worried about him.
Answer when someone has these symptoms, they need serial examinations, usually every 12-24 hours. No test is 100% effective at diagnosing appendicitis, and a cat scan can miss that about 5-10% of the time. He should have a repeat examination, repeat labwork, and if he can't keep up with his fluid status, he needs additional IV fluids..... I would get him back to the ER.
