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The treatment of fecal impaction requires both the remedy of the impaction and treatment to prevent recurrences. Decreased motility of the colon results in dry, hard stools that in the case of fecal impaction become compacted into a large, hard mass of stool that cannot be expelled from the rectum. [citation needed]
It is a hardening of feces into lumps of varying size and may occur anywhere in the intestinal tract but is typically found in the colon. It is also called appendicolith when it occurs in the appendix and is sometimes concurrent with appendicitis. [1] They can also obstruct diverticula. It can form secondary to fecal impaction.
Fecal incontinence or constipation occurs when there is a problem with normal bowel functioning. This could be for a variety of reasons. The normal defecation pathway involves contractions of the colon which helps mix the contents, absorb water and propel the contents along. This results in feces moving along the colon to the rectum. [4]
Other treatments may include biofeedback or in rare cases surgery. [4] In the general population rates of constipation are 2–30 percent. [7] Among elderly people living in a care home the rate of constipation is 50–75 percent. [11] People in the United States spend more than US$250 million on medications for constipation a year. [14]
Stercoral ulcer is an ulcer of the colon due to pressure and irritation resulting from severe, prolonged constipation due to a large bowel obstruction, damage to the autonomic nervous system, or stercoral colitis. It is most commonly located in the sigmoid colon and rectum.
Biofeedback has been shown to improve symptoms (improved frequency of bowel movements, reduced straining) and also reduce need for laxatives, [16] and patients stop needing to self-digitate. [24] Biofeedback can successfully treat abnormal contraction and relaxation of muscles in the anorectum during defecation. [ 24 ]
Bowel obstruction, also known as intestinal obstruction, is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines which prevents the normal movement of the products of digestion. [2] [5] Either the small bowel or large bowel may be affected. [1] Signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating and not passing gas. [1]
Many of the symptoms are due to malabsorption of nutrients due to the effects of bacteria which either metabolize nutrients or cause inflammation of the small bowel, impairing absorption. The symptoms of bacterial overgrowth include nausea, flatus, [5] constipation, [6] bloating, abdominal distension, abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, [7 ...