Hypoactive bowel sounds

Decreased intestinal sounds in tone and frequency (<5 sounds per minute) on abdominal auscultation, reflecting reduced gastrointestinal motility, with diminished frequency, intensity, or regularity compared with normal bowel activity. Possible causes are medications (opioids/narcotics, antihistamines, antispasmodics), postoperative paralytic ileus, constipation, peritonitis, mechanical blockages (tumor, hernia, stricture), hypokalemia, abdominal radiation therapy, and intestinal ischemia.