Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
A colon stricture is a narrowing of part of thecolon, the organ that forms the large intestine. Strictures can cause a bowel obstruction, hindering your ability to go to the bathroom and eliminate gas and solid waste. They occur in people withcolon cancerorinflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Strictures can often be corrected, but they can be life-threatening if left untreated and block the colon completely.
Read on to learn more about colon strictures, including causes and treatment.
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What Causes a Colon Stricture?
A narrowing in any part of the intestine is a stricture. In the colon, it can be due to inflammation, fibrous or scar tissue, or even cancer.
The most common risk factors for developing a stricture include:
Symptoms of a Colon Stricture
The symptoms of colon stricture are similar to many other digestive issues.
If you know you have IBD or another underlying condition that puts you at a higher risk for colon strictures, call your healthcare provider if you note any of the following symptoms:
Diagnosing a Colon Stricture
These imaging studies can show whether there is a blockage and where it’s located in the colon.
If you have an X-ray, you may be given an infusion of a white liquid that coats the colon so healthcare providers can see your anatomy more clearly. It doesn’t hurt, and the procedure typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
Treatment for Colon Stricture
Treatment for a colon stricture depends on what’s causing it and how it is interfering with your digestive process.
If the obstruction is only partially blocking the colon, healthcare providers may be able to put you on a low-fiber diet to see if you can begin to eliminate solid waste.
If dietary changes don’t work, or if the stricture is fully blocking the colon, treatments can include:
Complications of Colon Stricture
Colon strictures are often treatable, but they can become serious.
Colon strictures can cut off the blood supply to the intestine. This can cause tissue to weaken and result in a break in the intestinal wall, called a perforation. That can lead to an infection calledperitonitis, which is a life-threatening medical emergency. It may need both medical and surgical interventions.
What You Can Do to Prevent Colon StrictureIf you have IBD or another condition that puts you at higher risk for colon stricture, you should follow your medical team’s dietary advice very carefully. They may recommend certain vegetables and fruits, potatoes, white bread, soft meats, and fish. Foods to avoid are typically high-fiber foods, tough meats, nuts, and seeds. Monitor your bathroom habits, and if you feel constipated, bloated, or cannot pass gas or have a bowel movement, contact your provider.
What You Can Do to Prevent Colon Stricture
If you have IBD or another condition that puts you at higher risk for colon stricture, you should follow your medical team’s dietary advice very carefully. They may recommend certain vegetables and fruits, potatoes, white bread, soft meats, and fish. Foods to avoid are typically high-fiber foods, tough meats, nuts, and seeds. Monitor your bathroom habits, and if you feel constipated, bloated, or cannot pass gas or have a bowel movement, contact your provider.
Summary
A colon stricture is a narrowing of the colon. Strictures can lead to bowel obstructions, which affect your ability to have bowel movements. They can happen in people with inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. There are various treatment options available, including surgical procedures. Strictures should not be left untreated.
A Word From Verywell
Colon strictures are unpleasant and ignoring them can be dangerous. If you have IBD, you should be on the lookout for associated symptoms to more easily recognize a stricture. If you suspect you have one, contact your healthcare provider to get a diagnosis and begin treatment. Put any embarrassment you may have aside. Medical professionals who treat strictures regularly are there to help.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Large bowel (intestinal) obstruction.Klag T, Wehkamp J, Goetz M.Endoscopic balloon dilation for crohn’s disease-associated strictures.Clin Endosc. 2017;50(5):429-436. doi:10.5946/ce.2017.147Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Strictureplasty.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Large bowel (intestinal) obstruction.Klag T, Wehkamp J, Goetz M.Endoscopic balloon dilation for crohn’s disease-associated strictures.Clin Endosc. 2017;50(5):429-436. doi:10.5946/ce.2017.147Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Strictureplasty.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Large bowel (intestinal) obstruction.Klag T, Wehkamp J, Goetz M.Endoscopic balloon dilation for crohn’s disease-associated strictures.Clin Endosc. 2017;50(5):429-436. doi:10.5946/ce.2017.147Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Strictureplasty.
Cleveland Clinic.Large bowel (intestinal) obstruction.
Klag T, Wehkamp J, Goetz M.Endoscopic balloon dilation for crohn’s disease-associated strictures.Clin Endosc. 2017;50(5):429-436. doi:10.5946/ce.2017.147
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Strictureplasty.
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