Complete mechanical small bowel obstruction can cause dehydration by:

A. Interfering with oral intake of water.

B. Inducing vomiting

C. Decreasing intestinal absorption of water.

D. Causing secretion of water into the intestinal lumen. 

E. Causing edema of the intestinal wall.

DISCUSSION: One of the most important events during simple mechanical small bowel obstruction, loss of water and electrolytes from the body, is caused mainly by intestinal distention. Distention may produce reflex vomiting. Distention causes intestinal secretion. Distention causes decreased absorption.