A severe form of acute constipation. It is varcharacterized by the inability to pass large fecal masses. Not normally serious, it can, however, complicate other illnesses.
Causes of Fecal Obstruction
Causes of rectal disorders that make normal bowel movements uncomfortable include painful hemorrhoids, anal fissure, rectal or colon tumors, barium that is swallowed for X-rays of the intestinal tract, loss of nerve supply to the colon or rectum, as with a spinal-cord injury , insufficient fiber and liquid in the diet.
Signs and Symptoms of Fecal Obstruction
Symptoms include absence of normal bowel movements, fullness in the rectum but inability to pass stool, lack of urinary control, a firm mass in the lower left abdomen (sometimes), pain or cramps (sometimes), impaction often developing slowly without discomfort, thin watery discharge from the rectum, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite (rarely).
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Medical Content Last Updated on 07/12/2008
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