Small bowel obstruction due to intramural hematoma during anticoagulant therapy, a non-surgical condition.

Intramural hematoma of the small bowel should be suspected in any patient with signs or symptoms of small bowel obstruction who is having anticoagulant drug therapy, especially if it is longterm therapy and if the prothrombin time is excessively prolonged. A barium study is indicated and if the roentgen pattern is characteristic, conservative treatment is indicated. Unless there is an associated abdominal lesion requiring operation, most patients will improve in four to six days. Those not improving usually have other complicating conditions.