Large bowel obstruction occurs in the colon, while small bowel obstruction occurs in the small intestine. Large bowel obstruction is more commonly caused by colorectal cancer or diverticulitis, while small bowel obstruction is often caused by adhesions, hernias, or tumors.

Bowel obstruction may occur in the small intestine (small bowel obstruction, SBO) or large intestine (large bowel obstruction, LBO) and can be classified into two main types: Mechanical obstruction: due to a physical blockage within the intestine

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A bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of your small intestine or large intestine (bowels). The most common causes include scar tissue forming after abdominal surgery, hernias and colon cancer.

Small bowel obstruction is commonly caused by adhesions or hernias, while large bowel obstruction is commonly caused by malignancy or diverticular disease. The cardinal features for bowel obstruction are abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension, and absolute constipation.