Bowel obstruction remains one of the most common intra–abdominal problems faced by general surgeons in their practice whether caused by hernia, neoplasm, adhesions or related to biochemical disturbances, intestinal obstruction of either the small or large bowel continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of obstruction, pre–operative preparation, skillful operative management, proper technique during surgery and intensive postoperative treatment carries a grateful result. Although the mortality due to acute intestinal obstruction is decreasing with better understanding of pathophysiology, improvement in diagnostic techniques, fluid and electrolyte correction, much potent anti–microbials and surgical management, but still mortality ranges from 3% for simple obstruction to as much as 30% when there is vascular compromise or perforation of the obstructed bowel.