| Feature | SBO | LBO |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Central, colicky, cramping | Crampy, lower, long-lasting |
| Vomiting | Often, hard, looks like food | Little, and late (smells like stool) |
| Stool | Some, then none at all (obstipation) | No stool and no gas at all |
| Swelling | Mild, and comes on fast | Huge, and builds slowly |
| Blood chemistry | Alkalosis, from all the vomiting | Less of a shift |