An intestinal blockage caused by a physical obstruction of the bowel. Unlike functional ileus, where the gut simply stops moving, mechanical ileus results from something blocking the passage: adhesions from previous surgery, hernias, tumours, impacted stool, gallstones, or twisted bowel. Symptoms include severe crampy abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating, and inability to pass wind or stool. It is a surgical emergency when the blood supply to the trapped bowel is threatened. Diagnosis uses X-ray or CT imaging, and treatment ranges from nasogastric decompression and fluids to surgery to remove the obstruction. In food-related contexts, rare causes include swallowed foreign bodies.