running bowel
Systematic intraoperative examination of the entire small and large bowel to identify injuries or pathology.
Full Definition
Running bowel is the systematic intraoperative inspection of the entire gastrointestinal tract from the ligament of Treitz to the rectum during emergency abdominal surgery. This technique involves carefully examining every segment of bowel for injuries, perforation, ischemia, or other pathology that might otherwise be missed. The procedure is particularly important in trauma surgery and cases of suspected bowel obstruction or ischemia. Proper running of bowel requires methodical examination of both mesenteric and antimesenteric borders, checking for subtle injuries that could lead to delayed complications if unrecognized.
Usage
Usage note: Used as a verb phrase in operative reports.
In Context
- "After controlling bleeding, the surgeon performed running bowel to identify all injuries." — Trauma surgery operative report
- "Running bowel revealed a small perforation missed on initial inspection." — Emergency surgery documentation