Blind Loop Syndrome
September 23, 2009
Blind loop syndrome is otherwise called stasis syndrome or stagnant syndrome. This is a condition in which a part of the intestine gets blocked and it allows slow or no movement of the digested food.
This area of intestine is called blind loop. As food does not move through the intestine properly, it gets fermented there and thus encourages the growth of the bacteria. These bacteria in turn will create a lot of problems and may impair the absorption of essential nutrients and thus cause malnutrition.
Causes of Blind Loop Syndrome
Blind loop syndrome may develop in a person after having surgeries like surgery for removing obesity, total gastrectomy, Billroth II etc. Any operation with in the small intestine or any structural abnormalities in the intestine may also cause blind loop syndrome. Inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal duplication, scleroderma, diabetes mellitus, diverticulosis of small intestine, radiation enteritis etc may also lead to blind loop syndrome.
Symptoms of Blind Loop Syndrome
Stool of such patients becomes fatty with foul smell. This is because when the intestine gets blocked the bile salts that are supposed to digest the fat become inactive which in turn leads to poor absorption of the fat and the fat soluble vitamins.
The patient may also experience diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramps, growth retardation etc. Many people experience fullness of their stomach even after having minimal quantity of food or they may have an uncomfortable feeling in their stomach. At times people experience abdominal pain and bloating also.
The bacteria developed at the site of blockage may absorb most of the vitamins and the patient may have vitamin deficiency. Vitamin B12, vitamin K, vitamin D and vitamin A often becomes deficient.
Many essential elements like calcium, iron etc will also be not properly absorbed. Lack of calcium and vitamin D may cause osteoporosis. Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause macrocytic anemia in which the average size of erythrocytes is larger than normal. Bacterial growth may also cause inflammation in the intestinal walls and this impairs the absorption of carbohydrates and protein.
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