running the bowel
Systematic manual examination of the entire small and large intestine to assess for injury or pathology.
Full Definition
A fundamental surgical technique involving methodical palpation and visual inspection of the entire gastrointestinal tract from the ligament of Treitz to the rectum. The surgeon manually examines every inch of bowel, feeling for masses, assessing perfusion, and identifying areas of injury, ischemia, or pathology. This technique is essential in trauma surgery and emergency abdominal procedures to ensure no injuries are missed, particularly small serosal tears or contusions that might not be immediately apparent.
Usage
Usage note: Always used in the continuous form 'running' rather than 'run'; the gerund form emphasizes the ongoing nature of the examination.
In Context
- "After running the bowel, three small serosal tears were identified and repaired." — operative report
- "Complete running of the bowel revealed no additional injuries beyond the obvious perforation." — trauma surgery note