What is an expected finding in a patient with a bowel obstruction?

In a patient with a bowel obstruction, hypoactive bowel sounds are an expected finding. This condition occurs when there is a mechanical blockage in the intestines, which impedes the normal movement of intestinal contents. As a result, the bowel's peristaltic activity decreases, leading to diminished or absent bowel sounds upon auscultation. This reflects the intestines' inability to process food and gas effectively due to the obstruction.

Hyperactive bowel sounds may be indicative of early obstruction or increased activity below a blockage but typically would not be associated with prolonged or significant obstructions, where bowel sounds are more commonly hypoactive or absent.

A high fever might suggest an infectious complication, such as strangulation or perforation but is not a direct finding related to the obstruction itself. Severe abdominal rigidity, often associated with peritonitis or significant complications, is not exclusively expected in a simple bowel obstruction.