The management of the SBO is important. These patients should be hospitalized and a surgeon must be consulted immediately for a surgical evaluation. In the meantime, a restriction of oral intake needs to be initiated, and intravenous fluids and electrolytes should be administered. This has to be done immediately to hydrate these patients because most of the time the patients with SBO losing fluids through vomiting. According to Buttaro et al. (2013), antibiotic therapy is usually not indicated, but they can be on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics for surgical purposes. Since these patients can be nauseated and vomited, the Zofran or Phenergan can be administered intravenously. Untreated, intestinal obstruction can cause serious, life-threatening complications, including an abdominal hernia or malignant tumors. If the treatment is late, it can progress to a bowel ischemic, perforation in the intestinal wall, which can lead to infection. After the treatment, these patients can be referred to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation.
