Shock bowel

Last revised by Ciléin Kearns on 13 Feb 2023

Shock bowel is the appearance of the bowel in a state of hypotension. It is usually seen as part of the CT hypoperfusion complex.

Radiographic features

CT

  • enhancing, thickened bowel wall (>3 mm) 1

  • most commonly affects the small bowel

  • on non-contrast images, hyperdense walls compared to the psoas muscle 2, 6

  • wall thickening is due to submucosal edema

  • hyperenhancing mucosa

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