This is when there is a blockage in the bowel, preventing the contents from moving through the bowel normally. It can lead to the bowel bursting and leaking into the surrounding areas – see ‘Burst Bowel/perforation’.

This is when the bowel, which is formed like a tube, has a hole in it. As a result the contents of the bowel can leak out into the surrounding areas, and this can cause serious complications including sepsis.

This is when an area of the body, in this case the bowels, is not receiving blood and therefore oxygen. Without this, it will die, and if a part of the bowels dies, then this can cause serious complications including sepsis.

Some more information on bowel ischaemia can be found on the Bowel Research UK website

Adhesions are scar tissue within the tummy which cause organs which usually would move easily around one another to become stuck together. This can cause problems with blockages and can make surgery more complicated and difficult, increasing the chance of complications. Adhesions are usually there as a reaction to previous surgery or problems in the tummy such as infection.

More information about adhesions can be found on the Guts UK website.

Many of the organs in the abdomen are contained within a sack-like structure called the peritoneum. If there is an issue with one of these organs, the peritoneum can become angry and inflamed, and this is usually very painful. Peritonitis is the term used to describe this situation, and it can be due to a number of different, conditions, for example a ‘Burst Bowel/perforation’ – see above.

This is a condition where outpouchings of the bowel (called diverticula) become inflamed. It usually causes tummy pain and a fever and can cause blood or mucus to be passed from the bottom. It can cause a ‘perforation’ (see above) and if there is serious infection it can need surgery.

More information on diverticular disease and diverticulitis can be found on the Guts UK website, the ACPGBI website, or on the NHS website

Bowel cancer can cause blockages (see ‘obstruction’ above) or holes in the bowel (see ‘perforation’ above) and for some people becoming ill and needing an emergency laparotomy may be the first time they find out they have a cancer. If cancer is found then the person, and usually their family, will be told and they will likely need further tests to work out what the best treatment options are.

More information about bowel cancer can be found in the following websites

• NHS Website

• Bowel Cancer UK

• Guts UK

• Cancer Research UK

This term refers to a number of conditions which cause the bowel to become inflamed, two of the most common are Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Sometimes these need surgery to remove a part of the bowel which has become inflamed when medicines have not controlled this inflammation.

More information about inflammatory bowel diseases can be found on the following websites:

• NHS Website

• Crohn’s & Colitis UK

• Guts UK

This is when the bowel twists causing a blockage. This can also stop the blood supply reaching the bowel - see “ischaemia” above. It can be related to scarring from previous surgery as well as other conditions.

This is when the bowel is divided and moved so that the end comes out through the front of the tummy. As a result, bowel contents will need to be caught by a stoma bag.

There are many reasons that a stoma might be formed, and in some circumstances it is possible to reverse it in due course, however some stomas have to be permanent.

There is lots of information and support around living with and looking after a stoma from Colostomy UK, and the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association.