Mechanical bowel problems Mechanical bowel problems can include gallstones, bezoars, malrotation, ileus, foreign bodies, food impaction, stool impaction, tumors both cancerous and benign, and intussusception. Then there is the mechanical problem we can actually do something about in a TEOTWAWKI environment: constipation. First, we will review the list and talk a little bit about prevention and conservative treatments of the list above; then we can spend some time reviewing the prevention, treatment, and management of constipation. We will also talk a little about constipation’s frequent sidekick: hemorrhoids. Fun topics, to be sure, but a little knowledge in these areas may …