A 75-year-old female presents with constipation, abdominal pain, and vomiting. On physical examination, her abdomen is distended and tympanic to percussion. What are the potential causes and the next steps?
This patient's symptoms and physical examination are suggestive of a bowel obstruction, which could be due to a number of causes, including adhesions from previous surgeries, hernias, volvulus, or a mass like a tumor. An urgent abdominal X-ray or CT scan is needed to identify the cause and location of the obstruction. Depending on the results, she may need surgical intervention.