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What is fecal impaction of the colon?
When you eat food, it breaks down in your stomach and passes through your intestines. This process is known asdigestion. Then, the walls of your intestines absorb nutrients from the food. What remains as waste passes along to your colon and rectum.
At times, things may go wrong in this process and the waste becomes stuck in the colon. This is known as fecal impaction of the colon.
When you have an impacted colon, your feces become dry and won’t budge, making it impossible to excrete them from your body. Impacted feces block the way for new waste to leave the body, causing it to back up.
All symptoms of fecal impaction are serious and warrant prompt medical attention. They include:
- leakage of liquid stool
- abdominal discomfort
- abdominal bloating
- abdominal pain
- feeling the need to push
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- unexplained weight loss
- not wanting to eat
严重症状包括:
- rapid heart rate
- dehydration
- hyperventilation, or rapid breathing
- fever
- confusion
- becoming easily agitated
- incontinence, or passing urine without trying
The primary cause of fecal impaction of the colon isconstipation. Constipation is difficulty passing stool or the infrequent passing of stool. It’s often the result of:
- medication side effects
- insufficient nutrient intake
- dehydration
- lack of fiber
- an illness
- frequent bouts ofdiarrhea
- problems in the digestive system
- diseases such asdiabetesorthyroid disease
- anobstructionof the intestinal tract
- complications from pelvic or colorectal surgery
- continuous vomiting
- a spinal cord injury
- mental stress
- jet lag
Constipation is painful, and people who have it often feel bloated and uncomfortably full. You may also feel the need to go to the bathroom without being able to. When a stool doesn’t pass through the intestinal system, it can become dry and hard and lodge in the colon. This is called fecal impaction of the colon.
Once fecal impaction occurs, your colon won’t be able to remove the feces from the body using its normal contraction process.
If you think you have fecal impaction or if you have persistent symptoms of constipation that aren’t getting better, see your doctor immediately. They will perform a physical exam, which includes an examination of your abdomen to confirm the diagnosis. They’ll press down on your abdomen to feel for any masses or hardened areas, which can help them locate the affected parts of your digestive system.
After this, your doctor will administer adigital rectal examto check for fecal impaction. In this test, your doctor puts on a glove, lubricates one of their fingers, and inserts it into your rectum. This procedure doesn’t usually cause pain, but you may feel some discomfort.
If your doctor suspects impaction after performing the exams, they may order anX-ray of the abdomen. Other possible procedures are anabdominal ultrasoundor a viewing of the colon using a tiny microscope called asigmoidoscope. A barium enema can also highlight the problem areas. Abarium enemainvolves inserting a dye into your rectum and then taking anX-rayof the colon and rectum.
Laxatives
The first method of treatment for fecal impaction is usually an orallaxative. There are manyover-the-counter laxativesthat can help stimulate clearing of the colon. Sometimes, a medicated suppository, which is medication that’s placed into the rectum, may help.
Manual removal
If a laxative or a suppository doesn’t unblock the feces from your colon, your doctor will remove the feces manually. To do this, they’ll insert their gloved finger into your rectum and remove the blockage.
Enema
If your doctor can’t remove the entire blockage, they’ll use anenemato remove it. An enema is a small, fluid-filled bottle with a nozzle attached. The nozzle inserts into the rectum. Your doctor squeezes the bottle, releasing the liquid into the rectum and colon. This lubricates the colon and moistens the feces, making it easier to dislodge. You can find enemas at your local drugstore or onAmazon.
Water irrigation
Water irrigation involves pushing a small hose up through the rectum and into the colon. The hose connects to a machine that emits water through the tube. After the irrigation, your doctor will massage your abdomen, moving the waste out your rectum through another tube.
Complications of fecal impaction of the colon include:
- tears in the colon wall
- hemorrhoids
- anal bleeding
- anal tears
It’s important to pay attention to your bowel and visit a doctor if you suspect any problems.
One way to prevent fecal impaction of the colon is to avoid becoming constipated. Some diseases and certain medications make it impossible to avoid constipation, but making small lifestyle changes can help. Try these tips:
- Drink plenty of water every day to prevent dehydration.
- 喝其他液体,等as prune juice, coffee, and tea, that act as natural laxatives.
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as whole wheat, pears, oats, and vegetables.
- Reduce your intake of foods that are high in sugar, which can cause constipation.
- Exercise daily to help keep your digestive system running well.
Q:
What is the likelihood that someone who has had fecal impaction may experience it again? What can they do to avoid a recurrence?
A:
人粪压紧在更高的风险of getting it again. If you want to avoid fecal impaction, you should avoid any risk of constipation. Having good fluid and fiber intake, getting proper exercise, and avoiding constipating medications such as opiate painkillers like Vicodin and Percocet will certainly help decrease the risk of repeat fecal impaction.
Modern Weng, DO Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.