system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 45-year-old woman has painless abdominal distension 2 days after admission for acute pancreatitis. Her initial abdominal pain has resolved. Enteral nutrition has been initiated. She has not passed any stool since being admitted to the hospital. She has nausea but no vomiting. Her temperature is 36.7°C (98.1°F), pulse is 95/min, respiratory rate is 17/min, and blood pressure is 100/70 mm Hg. The lungs are clear to auscultation. Abdominal examination shows symmetric distention, absent bowel sounds, and tympanic percussion without tenderness. Laboratory studies show:
Serum
Na+ 137 mEq/L
K+ 3.2 mEq/L
Cl− 104 mEq/L
HCO3− 23 mEq/L
Urea nitrogen 22 mg/dL
Creatinine 0.8 mg/dL
A supine abdominal X-ray is shown. Which of the following best explains these findings?
assistant
Ileus