Small bowel resection: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek emergency help for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, new chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or a stoma that becomes black or dark purple.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Contact your surgical team promptly for increasing wound redness, drainage, worsening pain, repeated vomiting, persistent diarrhea, inability to keep fluids down, fever, or a swollen abdomen.

   Also call if your wound opens, you stop passing gas or stool after bowel function had returned, or your stoma stops working.

   These are different from routine recovery concerns and should not wait for a scheduled appointment.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has abdominal pain that is severe, constant, or getting worse
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Small bowel resection. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.