In closed loop bowel obstruction two points along the course of a segment of bowel are obstructed at a single location, such as a hernia, thus forming a closed loop. Both the efferent and afferent loops will be dilated, as opposed to the single site cut off of typical bowel obstructions.

They account for a small percentage of bowel obstructions and is specific entity of small bowel obstruction.  There is a high chance of ischemia in the closed off segment of bowel.

This case was proven at surgery.