Possible Causes And Complications Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Bowel Obstruction

A bowel obstruction is a potential complication that can occur with Crohn's disease, though it's not as common with ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease causes changes in the general thickness of the walls of the intestines. Different portions of the bowel might narrow or become thicker, leading to irregular movement of digestive content. If the bowel becomes too narrow or the walls become too thick, a full bowel obstruction may occur. This leads to a complete or partial blockage, which can, in turn, cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. Depending on the severity of the condition, patients might need a surgical procedure to remove the affected part of their bowel.