Can a CT scan pick up internal hernias/mesenteric tears or adhesions

Hello

I am writing on behalf of my partner who is 44 years old and had a umbillical hernia repair in 2004.

He has had problems with his stomach for 6 years now and has always been told that he has got IBS. He has taken vast amounts of drugs to help treat this but nothing helps.

In the last 10 weeks he has deteriorated - he cannot eat with out his stomach distending, burning around the belly button, constipation and vomiting. He was admitted to hospital 2 weeks ago, they performed a CT scan on him which came back normal. They discharged him and said they will treat him with laxatives and anti-spasmodics. The pain is still severe next to his belly button, he is vomitting, can't eat etc.

What I would like to know is can a CT scan pick up mesenteric tears, internal hernias, adhesions or damage to the abdominal wall?

If no, can you give me references for any validated scientific evidence which shows that CT scans don't show everything.

Please help because the hospital is useless and they won't perform a laparoscopy to investigate what is happening.

Thanks

[Sue357]

Hi.  I just had a CT scan done as I had colon resection surgery last January and surgeon wanted to check, as I am still experiencing some residual pain.  A CT with barium and contrast ( iodine IV) is very thorough.  The only thing that they were not able to see was whether there were any adhesions, which the surgeon does not think there are.  The other things you mentioned were able to be seen and were normal.  According to him, unfortunately, the only way to check for adhesions is to go back in and look.  That is not something I want to do...lol...no way, unless symptoms got much much worse.  Anyway, hope this helps.

[bonniejflory]

Hey there,
   I have been having bowel problems for 9yrs. now. The pain is unbearable with diarrhea. I am tired and weak all the time. However, after extensive test and exhausting the specialists, all test are normal. I am going to Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. In the past my symptoms would peak and they would go in there to explore. Every time they would come back and say," You had an awful mess in there". Now, what I don't understand is how can all of my blood test and diagnostic test be always normal and they go in there and always come back with the same comment. I have had 4 operations for adhesions. My bowels are always involved. One time I was kinked off like a water hose. Before, they said that was impossible to be and it not show up on a CT. Out of frustration they went in and found that I was. So, my point to all of this is that anything is possible. There are no test of any kind that can tell you for sure that adhesions are or are not the problem. In my experience when everything is normal it is adhesions, without a doubt. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure. The only way to get rid of them is surgery. They have several different things they can put in there, like a mesh net. That way if the adhesions come back they will adhere to the mesh and not the bowels, other organs or the abdominal wall. Some people are more likely to get them than others. The majority of people only have to have 1 or  2 operations. Then you have people like me who has a chronic problem with them. I am very thankful that my problem is nothing bad like cancer or Chron's disease. But, I wish it was something that I could take a pill for and that would be it. It just isn't that simple. If anyone has any more ideas or knowledge of adhesions I would greatly appreciate your sharing. I hope this is some help. This information is only my experience personally and as a MA and should only be used that way, not in place of a doctor.
God Bless,
~Bonnie

[Markkram]

Hi Bonnie. Like you my adhesion problems are chronic. My surgeon says in thirty years of practice he has never seen anything like mine. Most people get a parcial blockedge, mine is a full shut down and ends up with surgery. To date i've had three major ops, resulting in some of my small bowel removed and twenty nine readmissions. Over the seventeen years of problems i have looked at so many solutions it is mind boggling. Truth is there is no cure. That mythical pill that solves everything is just a dream (no matter how i pray otherwise) I've been told that a careful diet (little and often) helps. At the moment i am seeing a homeopathic doctor (expensive) and am prescribed a remedy called thisionium(think that's it) which is supposed to reduce adhesions. I guess i'll try anything, but don't be fooled by some internet sites that promise complete cures at vast expensive, my specialist says they a con.

[rmkalfayan]

I have also had similar experiences with adhesions.  I have had 7 surgeries in 6 years (most were due to my ovaries and such), but it seems like I get about 9 good months before the adhesions start causing pain.  I had a complete hysterectomy (at the age of 30) two years ago and I am just starting to have the pain again.  ugh!  I have been sent to the hospital twice thinking it was appendicitis, but the ct scans show a normal appendix.  It did however show a condition called mesenteric adenitis (sp?) which is swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen which apparently mimics appendicitis.  I personally think the pain is caused by adhesions.  I am just waiting for it to get too bad before I go in and have my insides cleaned up. lol  My advice would be to be your own advocate.  You know your body the best and if you know something is wrong, then you need to be fighting for a diagnosis that fits your symptoms.