Introduction

The goal of this teaching module is to extend off the base principles learnt in The Surgical Abdomen and further guide management and understanding of a core surgical presentation.

This module forms part of the Core Curriculum.

• It requires 30 minutes preparation.

• It can be taught in 1 hour

Materials Required:

• Whiteboard

• Projector

• Powerpoint presentation of Images

Teaching approach

As with all modules, familiarise yourself with the NPMT principles.

this session aims to cover:

• Understand the aetiologies of bowel obstructions, and the contributing anatomy and pathology

• Understanding the presentation of bowel obstruction and initial clues to aetiology

• Identifying the mimickers

• Identify high risk bowel obstructions

• Core principles of management in bowel obstructions

• Imaging in bowel obstructions – identifying signs of bowel obstruction, anatomical divisions and complications

• Prevention of bowel obstructions

Tips & Tricks on running an effective session:

• Be as interactive as possible

  • Encourage discussion of cases students have been exposed to, or questions they may have encountered in their reading

  • If you are unsure of the answer to questions, indicate sources that could be consulted by students and strategies to solve this question were you to encounter it on the wards

Correlate the clinical cases presented with the content presented in this module. This will help students learn what history/examination findings are suggestive of specific aetiologies of bowel obstructions, and what questions to ask to rule in/out bowel obstruction as a differential

From our feedback, the more interactive and ‘put on the spot’ you make the session, the more valuable it will be. Having students think on the spot and share their ideas in a non-threatening environment is key to making the session light-hearted and collaborative so that they can apply what they have learnt at medical school to a clinical patient.

Download Resources:

• Curriculum pack

• Powerpoint