Paralysis of the small bowel resembling mechanical intestinal obstruction

In some instances, particularly in the neonate, paralytic ileus affects predominantly the small bowel, thus resembling intestinal obstruction. Localized paralysis of the small bowel occurs secondary to regional events in a segment of gut and resembles mechanical obstruction even more closely. In localized paralysis the bowel lumen is usually dilated without abrupt distal transition to collapsed intestines. If there is radiographic and clinical recognition of localized, transitory bowel paralysis, surgery is usually unnecessary.