Intestinal obstruction

Due to the mechanical difficulty of the passage of contents through the bowel, there can be a risk of intestinal obstruction in some cases. The aim of the dietary recommendations is to avoid an increase in faecal bolus and thus reduce the risk of subacute bowel obstruction. Fibre-rich foods such as some vegetables (raw and cooked), legumes, some fruits, wholegrain foods, nuts, and dried fruit are excluded from the diet. The medical team should determine the degree of exclusion of these foods depending on the risk of obstruction and may prescribe a strict low residue diet or a moderate low residue diet, as detailed below. In some cases, this diet may also be accompanied by certain liquid restrictions.

WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?

Maintain good hydration, drinking a minimum of 1.5 litres of fluid per day.
Chew food well and eat in a relaxed way.

Some vegetables (raw and cooked), pulses, some fruits, wholegrain foods, nuts, and dried fruit, and some cooking and preparation techniques.

Allowed foods example
Breakfast/mid-morning/snack DAIRY: milk, yogurt or cheese without chunks or added fiber.
Non-whole grain cereals: bread, toast, biscuits, breakfast cereals (corn, wheat, rice), maria cookies, homemade pastries (gingerbread or homemade muffins with refined flour).
FRUIT

  • Raw, ripe, peeled without seeds: pear, apple, watermelon, melon, grape and banana.
  • Liquid: all.
  • Cooked: apple, pear and peach in syrup.

ACCESSORIES Sweet ham, turkey, tuna, salty ham, anchovies…
Virgin olive oil, margarine, butter.
infusions
Coffee, soluble cocoa or Eko® type soluble cereals.
Sugar or sweeteners.
Vegetable drinks without fiber: rice, soy, coconut, oat…

To have breakfast
Coffee with milk.
White bread sandwich with tomato (without seeds) and virgin olive oil with tuna.
A drop of peeled and pitted grapes (5-10 units).
Midday

Lunches/dinners VEGETABLES AND VEGETABLES

  • Cooked without skin: potato, carrot, courgette, grated onion, sieved tomato.
  • Raw: liquefied or crushed and passed through a puree.
  • Unpeeled and pureed legumes.

NON-WHEAT AND VERY COOKED CEREALS: pasta, rice, couscous, rice noodles, semolina, polenta, bread…
PROTEIN FOODS

  • Meat: all, avoiding strong and tender parts.
  • Fish: all of them
  • Eggs: all

FRUIT:

  • Raw, ripe, peeled and without skin or seeds: pear, apple, watermelon, melon, grape and banana.
  • Liquid: all.
  • Cooked: apple, pear, peach in syrup.

OTHERS
Dairy desserts: curd, cottage cheese, custard, custard, rice pudding.
Spices.

Lunch

have a snack
Yoghurt with pieces of melon.
Dinner

It is important to ensure an adequate intake of olive oil to help contribute to the elimination of stools. It is therefore recommended to add a drizzle of olive oil on top of the different food preparations.

In some cases, it can improve digestive comfort. Consult your registered dietitian

Fraction food intake by eating several times a day and in moderate volumes.

This fibre-restricted diet is poor in vitamins and minerals. If considered necessary, the patient should take multivitamin supplements to avoid long-term vitamin-mineral deficiencies.