What is it?

It is an alteration of the normal intestinal movements (motility) due to a mechanical cause or to a significant modification of the motility. Common causes include:
• Adhesions of previous abdominal surgeries
• Masses within the intestine (tumors, ingested foreign bodies, or parasites)
• Twisting of a portion of intestine
• Intussusception (sliding of the intestine into itself)